It’s been 10 years since the Bruins and Trojans both reached the 30-win mark in a single season.

Following USC’s win over Cal State Northridge on Tuesday, both teams eclipsed the mark with double-digit games remaining – making this year’s crosstown rendition arguably the most competitive in years.

However, this weekend’s rivalry series won’t take place in Los Angeles.

While No. 14 UCLA baseball (33-11, 16-5 Big Ten) may have feared a season without Jackie Robinson Stadium after a federal judge ordered the team to leave the ballpark this fall, USC (30-14, 14-7) – under vastly different circumstances – is in its second season without a home venue while Dedeaux Stadium undergoes renovations. The Bruins and Trojans will instead square off at Great Park in Irvine for a three-game series beginning Friday and continuing through Sunday.

“It’s a conference series,” said coach John Savage, who served as USC’s pitching coach from 1997 to 2000. “This series is just as important as our last series and the one coming up next week.”

UCLA is currently second place in the Big Ten, 2.5 games back of Iowa, while USC is tied for third at 4.5 games out of first place.

But beyond conference implications, the series will affect each team’s RPI, which could affect where both teams end up in the NCAA tournament.

While UCLA is 15th in the category, USC is 37th – third in the Big Ten – and will likely be the Bruins’ final Quad 1 opponent of the regular season.

Both teams also enter with win streaks to defend. The Bruins have won four straight, while the Trojans have won seven. However, UCLA took last year’s series in Westwood along with March 2’s nonconference affair.

In the most recent rivalry matchup, sophomore shortstop Roch Cholowsky hit a game-winning three-run homer that put UCLA up 4-0, leading to an eventual 5-1 victory.

Cholowsky was named the Brooks Wallace Award Player of the Week – an honor that recognizes the best shortstop in the nation – on Tuesday for his performances against UC Irvine and Penn State.

Across his current eight-game hitting streak, Cholowsky has hit .400 with five home runs and 13 RBIs.

“We’re pretty fired up,” said redshirt senior outfielder AJ Salgado. “We want to go out there, and we want to send a message.”

Salgado has also recently found a penchant for the long ball, as he has hit three in his last four games.

Boasting a 1.67 ERA across its last three contests, the Bruin pitching staff could also continue its success this weekend.

Redshirt junior left-hander Ian May will take the bump Friday against USC left-hander Caden Hunter, who has started 11 games for the Trojans but has allowed 10 earned runs in a combined 6.2 innings over his last two starts.

On Saturday, Bruin right-hander Michael Barnett will face right-hander Caden Aoki.

Though neither team has announced a starter for the series finale, sophomore right-hander Landon Stump has made all 11 of UCLA’s Sunday starts this season and has yet to allow an earned run against USC across two career starts totaling 8.1 innings.

“Everyone knows it’s a rivalry,” said freshman right-hander CJ Bott. “We don’t really want to play bigger than ourselves or make it too big of a deal. We know we have to win.”