(LOS ANGELES)-After Omaha set history last week, capturing their first ever Summit League Tournament in Tulsa, Okla., the Mavericks are now set to play in their first-ever NCAA Tournament. The next step will no doubt be a test, however, as they were dealt a tough hand—the number-one overall seed, UCLA.
The Mavericks will need to re-capture some of that magic that helped them back in the Summit League Tournament, and that begins with Payton Kinney. The sixth-year senior pitcher picked up two wins last week alone to bring his season total up to a record-tying 11. His outing against Oral Roberts in game two of last week’s championship was exceptional. Kinney went 7.1 scoreless innings with ten strikeouts. For the Mavs to be successful in Los Angeles, Kinney needs to prove once again why he’s the Summit League Pitcher of the Year.
Maverick bats will also need to have a productive weekend. After scoring 15 runs in their first game of the Tournament last week against Western Illinois, the Omaha bats cooled down scoring only a combined 7 runs in their final three games. Omaha did see some stellar individual hitting performances, however. Braden Rogers’ two home runs in game-two on Saturday against Oral Roberts, and players like Thomas DeBonville and Keil Krumwiede delivered in big spots. Omaha will need production similar to their game against Western Illinois if they want to topple the number one seed.
On the flip side, UCLA has been the best team in college baseball for most of the season. The Bruins have the best winning percentage in the country (.855) and they are heading into NCAA Regionals in their eleventh-straight week at number one in the nation.
The Bruins have played excellent on both sides this season but pitching and defense have been particularly strong to get themselves to this point. They are top-ten nationally in team ERA (2.59) and defensive fielding percentage (.982). Their pitching staff is led by Ryan Garcia and Jack Ralston, who have a combined record of 20-0.
Their bats keep up as well. The Bruins have five batters who are batting over .300 led by Noah Cardenas batting .407. Garrett Mitchell has had an incredible last 15-game stretch, batting .486 with nine triples, three home runs, and 19 RBI’s.
UCLA had many names on the All-Pac-12 team, almost more than double the next best team. Eight players were named to the all-conference team (Stanford had next best with five) and head coach John Savage was named Coach of the Year. UCLA is 27-4 at home this season.
For Omaha, it’ll be their fourth time playing a Pac-12 school this season (they went 1-2 against USC in their opening series of the season). This will also be their eighth game in California this season (USC and Santa Clara). It will be the first-ever meeting between Omaha and UCLA.
