UCLA baseball to start 4-game road trip with series against Utah

The Bruins will have the chance to extend their winning streak in their fourth conference series of the season.

No. 15 UCLA baseball (20-8, 6-3 Pac-12) will start a four-game road trip Friday with a three-game series at Utah (17-11-1, 4-5). The Bruins are entering the weekend riding a six-game win streak and victories in nine of their last 10 games.

Freshman left-hander Ethan Flanagan said the advent of being ranked and the team’s recent wins have motivated the blue and gold.

“(We’re) in the rankings. Everyone’s pumped about it, and everyone came to practice yesterday (Monday) in a great mood,” Flanagan said. “It’s just more fuel to keep getting better and keep doing what we’re doing.”

After dropping two of three at home against USC 3 1/2 weeks ago, UCLA has won five of six conference matchups, including a sweep of then-No. 21 Oregon. UCLA continued its winning stretch with a midweek victory against Loyola Marymount on Tuesday.

Sophomore infielder Kyle Karros said the win over the Lions was a boon to the team’s mindset.

“Coming off such an emotional series against Oregon, such a tight series there, it’s always super easy to come out and take your foot off the gas and play lackadaisical,” Karros said. “It was really good that we were able to get that fight going and keep this win streak alive because it does bring a lot of confidence to the team.”

UCLA will head to Salt Lake City without freshman right-hander Thatcher Hurd because of an injury that occurred in the first inning of his Sunday start against Oregon. According to coach John Savage, sophomore right-handers Jake Brooks and Max Rajcic will make starts Friday and Saturday, respectively, but the team has yet to determine who will take the mound Sunday.

Savage said redshirt sophomore right-hander Kelly Austin could reclaim his Sunday starting slot despite taking the mound for the Bruins on Tuesday.

“We got to play it out a little bit,” Savage said. “That’s one of the reasons why Kelly was on a pitch count. … He’s more than capable of coming back on Sunday.”

Austin made four Sunday starts to begin the season, posting a 2.57 ERA over 21 innings before being shifted into a role as both a reliever and Tuesday starter. In his last two appearances, the righty recorded a save against Oregon, then pitched three shutout innings against Loyola Marymount.

The Bruins relied on the long ball against the Lions, with the winning run coming on a solo homer by freshman infielder Cody Schrier. Karros said Schrier and other freshmen have contributed substantially.

“They’ve been doing an unreal job,” Karros said. “I’m going to continue to do my best in keeping them in the right headspace going through the remainder of the season, but they’re really special players.”

UCLA will take the field against Utah on Friday at 5 p.m.