Tag: UCLA Bruins baseball

UCLA baseball congratulates Dodgers manager Dave Roberts

The Bruins tipped their cap to the former UCLA-great.

Two former UCLA Bruins were central to the 2024 World Series this season.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole and Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts played key roles for their respective teams on the world’s biggest stage in baseball, but only one left with a ring.

Roberts, who graduated from UCLA in 1995, holds the all-time steals record for the Bruins in his time and is now a three-time Major League Baseball champion. Leading the Dodgers to their eighth title as a franchise, Roberts has two rings with Los Angeles and one with the Boston Red Sox.

On Wednesday, in a post on X, the UCLA Bruins baseball team tipped their cap to the former Bruin. Roberts not only boasts a fruitful playing career but has established himself as one of the best skippers in all of baseball.

For the UCLA baseball team, Roberts is yet another decorated program alumni and someone the Bruins could use this season. After a tough season in 2024, UCLA should consider inviting Roberts to Westwood to inspire the underperforming program.

Photos of Gerrit Cole in Game 1 of World Series

What a night for Cole.

Former UCLA Bruins pitcher Gerrit Cole got the honor to start Game 1 of the World Series between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers.

It was quite the moment for Cole, especially since he played college baseball with the UCLA Bruins.

On top of that, he pitched well, giving up just one run and four hits in six innings. Unfortunately, Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam sealed the deal and gave the Dodgers the 6-3 win in extra innings.

Still, it was a positive outing for Cole, who might have another outing in store in the World Series if the Yankees can win some games. Here are the best photos of Cole from Game 1.

Gerrit Cole dazzles in World Series Game 1

A great outing for Gerrit Cole.

The Los Angeles Dodgers got the best of the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night.

However, Yankees star and former UCLA pitcher Gerrit Cole got the nod for Game 1. Cole delivered a big outing, going six innings and giving up just one run on four hits.

He threw 88 pitches and had four strikeouts in a big outing for the Yankees. Unfortunately, the Dodgers scored a run in the 8th inning to tie it, and then Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off grand slam to get the 6-3 win for the Dodgers.

Still, it was a terrific bounceback for Cole, who struggled in the ALCS against the Cleveland Guardians. In his lone outing against Cleveland, he went just 4.1 innings and gave up a pair of runs on six hits with four walks.

In Game 1 of the World Series, Cole didn’t walk anybody. As the series goes on, the hope for Cole and the Yankees is that he gets one more chance to start a game.

Game 2 is on Saturday night in LA.

Gerrit Cole makes impressive MLB debut 11 years ago to this date

What a debut it was for Gerrit Cole.

Arguably one of the best baseball products from UCLA, starting right-handed pitcher Gerrit Cole made his Major League Baseball debut 11 years ago.

Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates first overall in 2011, Cole spent two years in the minor leagues before making his professional debut for the Pirates in 2013 against the San Francisco Giants.

In the win, Cole pitched six and a third innings with two strikeouts, allowing two runs, and even added to the game as a batter. With the bases loaded, Cole’s single drove in two runs to lift the Pirates to an 8-2 win. A sign of things to come for Cole, his first outing was an impressive start to his career.

Today, Cole is on the mend following an injury he suffered during spring training for the New York Yankees. A six-time All-Star and Cy Young winner in 2023, the former Bruin is the gold standard for pitchers in the MLB today.

Three teams hold the Pac-12 final hope in College Baseball World Series

Three Pac-12 teams in the CWS.

It was a frustrating season for the UCLA Bruins Baseball team. Their 2023-2024 season is over after a 19-33 season and dead-last finish in Pac-12 play.

Now, three teams hold the Pac-12 final hope to win the College Baseball World Series. After winning the Pac-12 title, the Arizona Wildcats garnered the 13 seed in the bracket.  They will host the Grand Canyon Antelopes on Friday. The other two teams in their region are Dallas Baptist and West Virginia.

The Oregon State Beavers are just behind them at 15. The Beavers will host games in Corvallis, and get the winner of the Lexington in the Super Regional.

The Oregon Ducks are also in the College Baseball World Series. They are the 3 seed in Santa Barbara. They will take on San Diego in their first-round game. The winner of the Santa Barbara regional will take on the winner of the Bryan-College Station winner.

The Big Ten got three teams in as well. The Indiana Hoosiers are the 3 seed of 4 in Knoxville. They will go on to play the winner of the Greenville Regional.  Illinois was the second Big Ten team. They will take on Indiana State in the Lexington Regional. Kentucky is the top seed there. Finally, Nebraska is the second seed in the Stillwater Oklahoma regional. They will get Florida in their first-round game.

The College Baseball World Series will start in Omaha on June 14th. The final game is slated for June 24th, 2024. The Tennessee Volunteers are the top seed, followed by Kentucky, Texas A+M and North Carolina.

Pac-12 Conference comes to an end with walkoff Arizona baseball win

The Pac-12 is officially over.

The UCLA Bruins have been members of the Pac-12 Conference since 1928. Nearly 100 years have come to an end, as the Pac-12 officially played their final game.

It was a wild one, in the Pac-12 Conference title game. The Arizona Wildcats beat USC 4-3. The game was held in Scottsdale. The game ended with Tommy Spaline hitting a walk-off single.

Arizona did not have a hit until the 7th inning and trailed 3-0 heading into the 8th inning. The win for the Wildcats pushed them to 36-21-0 overall. They won the conference title with their 20-10 mark in the regular season. USC dropped to 31-28 on the season.

Head coach Chip Hale of Arizona talked earlier this week about losing the conference and his feelings about it:

“That’s the sad thing about it: You start talking about those awards, you start thinking, boy, that’s the last time this conference is going to be able to do that.”

Hale was the first person to earn Pac-12 Baseball Player of the Year in 1987 and coach of the year – 2024 honors.

Hale also praised his team and had a sigh of relief for how great the game ended:

“What a great way for it to end, not only for the baseball season but the sports’ history for this conference.”

Roxy Bernstein was on the call as the game ended:

 

Three things that went wrong from UCLA Baseball in 2024

A disappointing baseball campaign.

A lot went wrong for the UCLA Bruins baseball team in 2024. Finishing their season at 19-33 and a dead-last 9-21 in the Pac-12, the Bruins were always chasing throughout the season.

However, pinpointing exactly what went wrong for UCLA can hopefully lead to future success down the road.

To start, the Bruins struggled mightly in Pac-12 play. Their aforementioned 9-21 record in conference tied with Washington State and lagged behind the competition. To have a chance at the NCAA Baseball post-season, the Bruins must be able to compete in their division.

Second, the Bruins’ starting pitching was not terrible but lacked consistency. In 11 games in 2024, the Bruins allowed more than ten runs, hardly a recipe for success. If UCLA can improve their rotation going forward, they will give their offense a chance to compete.

Lastly, the Bruins had a nasty habit of losing streaks. Good teams can shake off a loss or two. UCLA let the losses pour in. The Bruins had a whopping six losing streaks of three games and two of seven or more. To compete, the Bruins need to find a way to stop the bleeding and reset.

Former Bruins ace Gerrit Cole returns to pitching activities

Gerrit Cole is inching closer to a return.

One of the best Bruins pitchers of all time has returned to action. Gerrit Cole, the New York Yankees Cy Young Award winner in 2023, has begun throwing off the mound in practice.

Cole, who was placed on the 60-day injured list after suffering elbow pain and inflammation over spring training, returned to throwing this week. 

A big step towards his return, ESPN’s Jorge Castillo reported that Cole threw 15 pitches, all fastballs, in his first outing after taking time off. 

According to Castillo, Cole said of his return to throwing, “It was exciting. This was a good day for me. I was fired up.” 

The Yankees currently hold a 22-13 record and sit in second place in the American League East. To boot, their 3.01 team ERA is third in all of Major League Baseball today, an impressive feat without their ace. 

If Cole can return before the All-Star Break in July, he can help the Yankees continue to lower their ERA and potentially surpass the top-ranked Baltimore Orioles in the AL East standings. 

UCLA baseball ends whopping nine-game skid vs. Pepperdine

A big win on the diamond.

The 2024 UCLA Bruins season, in a word, has been forgettable. Or, for Bruins nation, it is a season they hope to soon forget. Entering the season ranked in the NCAA Division I Top 25, the Bruins sit in early May at a sluggish 14-28. 

On Tuesday, the Bruins thankfully put a nine-game skid to rest against Pepperdine. 

Winning the game 16-2, the Bruins took their frustrations out on the Wave, scoring a season-high in runs. Behind a two-home run night by freshman first baseman Mulivai Levu, who totaled seven RBIs in the game, the Bruins ended their losing streak and got back into the win column. 

2024, thus far, has the Bruins looking to turn the page. UCLA has already clinched a losing season and is ready to revamp for 2025. From pitching woes to no-shows at the plate for the Bruins, nothing quite worked for them this season. 

But with an understanding of where the team is now, the Bruins can try to close out their season with some answers as they approach the off-season. 

Former UCLA Bruin Jrue Holiday selected to the USA Men’s Basketball Team

Jrue Holiday makes Team USA cut.

USA Basketball is set to tip off in July in Paris, France. Among the members of the team are superstars Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Steph Curry. But one former UCLA Bruin made the list.

Jrue Holiday, the starting guard for the Boston Celtics, rounded out the TeamUSA roster. Holiday, a two-time All-Star and one-time NBA Champion brings a blend of scoring ability and rock-solid defense to Team USA.

The 17th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, Holiday is a seasoned veteran of the NBA who won gold with Team USA in 2020. Now, Holiday looks to bring home a second-straight gold medal for the United States.

Holiday joins former Bruin Russell Westbrook as a two-time invitee to play for the United States. Westbrook took home gold in 2012 but declined his invitation in 2016.

Before Holiday suits up for Team USA, he and the #1 seed Boston Celtics look to make a run at the Larry O’Brien trophy as the NBA playoffs begin.