Claypool’s Big Night Helps Bruins Go To 17-0

Garrett Claypool

Claypool notched his second win in his third start of the season as UCLA extended its win streak to a school-record 17 games. The senior from West Hills, Calif. limited the Gauchos (9-7) to one run (unearned) and three hits and walked just one batter.

UC Santa Barbara right-hander Jesse Meaux (3-1) was tagged with his first loss of the season. Meaux allowed five runs and 10 hits through five innings in his fourth start of the spring.

UCLA’s offense was as impressive as Claypool’s dominant start. The Bruins registered 16 hits, striking for five runs and seven hits to snap a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth. All nine starters in UCLA’s batting lineup connected for at least one hit, as six Bruins had two or more hits.

Designated hitter Blair Dunlap extended his team-leading hitting streak to 12 games, going 3-for-5 with two runs. Left fielder Cody Keefer was 2-for-4 with one double, and third baseman Cody Regis was 2-for-5 with one double. First baseman Justin Uribe and center fielder Beau Amaral each went 2-for-3 with one RBI.

The Bruins’ five-run fourth inning featured three doubles and four singles, as two of the Bruins’ runs were scored with two outs. Keefer led off the frame with a double deflected into foul territory down the line by a diving attempt from first baseman Trevor White. After a base-hit by right fielder Brett Krill, Keefer scored from third on a double by Regis. A groundout to second by shortstop Niko Gallego plated Krill and pushed Regis to third. Catcher Trevor Brown reached on an infield single to score Regis and was thrown out at home on an ensuing double to left by Dunlap, who took third on the throw. A single up the middle by Amaral scored Dunlap, and after moving to second on a fielding error, Amaral scored from second on a single to right field by Uribe.

UCLA added one run in the sixth inning on a run-scoring groundout by pinch-hitter Dean Espy.

UC Santa Barbara got on the board with one run in the bottom of the seventh. Baserunners at first and second each advanced 90 feet on a passed ball, before a groundout to first base by designated hitter Beck Wheeler sent home second baseman Sean Williams from third base.

The Bruins scored one run in the top of the eighth, pushing their lead to 7-1, on an RBI-single by Keefer.

UCLA plays its final non-conference series of the regular season against Cal Poly, beginning Thursday, March 25. Game time Thursday is 6 p.m. The Bruins and Mustangs continue the series Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m.

Game Notes: Garett Claypool improved his career record to 8-4 and has now recorded 135 strikeouts in 147.2 career innings … the Bruins have won three of their last four games against UC Santa Barbara … Blair Dunlap notched his seventh multiple-hit game of the season and his second three-hit game … Tyler Rahmatulla recorded his team-leading 11th multiple-hit game of the year – Rahmatulla has hit safely in 15 of the Bruins’ 17 games … Erik Goeddel made his ninth appearance out of the bullpen, pitching a 1-2-3 eighth inning … Dan Klein made his team-leading  11th appearance of the year, recording two strikeouts in the ninth inning.

(UCLA Release)

Bruins Keep Rolling With Big Pitching & Hitting

UCLA is off to the best start in program history.  The Bruins are 13-0 heading into this weekend’s 3-game series vs. Oral Roberts. Most thought the Bruins would have a good pitching staff, with guys like sophomores Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer on the hill.  However, UCLA’s offense had some big holes to fill from a team that didn’t even make an NCAA Regional in 2009.

The Bruins returned just four players who combined to hit 13 of the team’s 54 home runs last year, but they have already belted 18 long balls this season.  That total currently leads the Pac-10.  Senior leadoff man Blair Dunlap set the tone early when he homered the very first pitch UCLA saw this season in the season-opener against Bethune-Cookman.  He enters this weekend’s action riding an 8-game hitting streak.

Blair Dunlap

Sophomore catcher Steve Rodriguez is on his way to a breakout season at the plate.  Rodriguez batted just .179 with 17 hits, two home runs and 10 RBIs as a freshman last year, but he’s currently hitting .375 (15-for-40) with 12 RBIs and a Pac-10 leading five home runs.

Tyler Rahmatulla is another sophomore who’s off to a great start after a pedestrian freshman season.  The second baseman has started all 13 games and is hitting a team-best .420 while sharing team leads with five stolen bases and 13 runs scored.

As a team the Bruins are batting .355 with 18 home runs, a .536 slugging percentage, a .434 on-base percentage, and they’re averaging 8.6 runs a game.  Heading into Friday’s match-up with Oral Roberts UCLA has nine players with at least 20 at-bats this season who are hitting .300 or better.  Top wins in the 13-0 start have come against Vanderbilt (14-2) and Oklahoma (16-2).

As good as UCLA’s hitting has been, its pitching has been even better.  The staff boasts a 2.00 ERA with a Pac-10 best 173 strikeouts and just 35 walks in 117.0 innings.  Freshman Scott Griggs has made one appearance this season, and he gave-up one run in one inning for an ERA of 9.00.  Otherwise, the worst ERA on the staff is held by Bob Rasmussen, who has a 2.79 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 19 1/3 IP in four starts.  The staff has totaled at least 10 strikeouts in 11 of 13 games so far.

Gerrit Cole

Cole (4-0, 2.10 ERA) leads the staff with 41 Ks and just 4 BB in 25 2/3 IP after last weekend’s 15 strikeout performance against Texas A&M Corpus Christi at the Whataburger Classic.  Classmate Trevor Bauer (3-0, 2.38 ERA) fanned 15 the next day in a win over Mississippi State.  He has 38 Ks with 6 BB in 22 2/3 innings so far.  Rasmussen didn’t have the gaudy strikeout totals that Cole and Bauer did, but the left fanned seven in 6 IP in Sunday’s win over OU to snap the Sooners’ 10-game winning streak.

The UCLA relief corps been just as dominant as the team’s starting pitching.  The bullpen is 4-0 with 3 saves, a 1.23 ERA and .213 opponent batting average.  Closer Dan Klein has three saves with 14 strikeouts and just two BB in 11.0 innings and nine appearances, while set-up man Erik Goeddel (2-0, 2.70 ERA) has 12 Ks with 4 BB in 10.0 innings of work.

More on UCLA Through 13 Games…
- UCLA has opened the season with a 13-0 record, the best start on record in school history (dating to 1955).
- UCLA last won 13 straight in 1969, when they entered the College World Series on a 13-game win streak.
- Through Tuesday’s national action, UCLA (13-0) and Arizona State (16-0) are the only undefeated NCAA Division I ballclubs in the country.
- The Bruins have out-hit their opponent in all 13 ballgames, having outscored the opposition by a 112-31 margin.
- The offense ranks third in the Pac-10 in batting average (.355) and first in homers (18) through Tuesday.
- The pitching staff has posted a league-best 2.00 ERA and .188 opponent average through Tuesday.