UC Santa Barbara Record: 21-9 (12-4)
UC San Diego Record: 8-16 (5-7)
Tale of the tape:
The Gauchos come into the series rolling …
The Gauchos come into this series on a hot streak taking three straight league series, being 8-2 in their last 10 games.
On the other hand, the Tritons have been on a slide …
The Tritons come into the series on a cold streak losing two straight league series, going 3-7 in their last 10 games.
Series implications:
First place is just within the Gauchos’ grasp …
The Gauchos with a series win or sweep can go to the top of the Big West conference, with a little help from rival Cal Poly Slo playing host to top of the conference, UC Irvine.
A moral boost with half the season to play for …
The Tritons with a series win can break even in conference play or better yet, go one game above .500 with a series sweep.
Players to watch for: UCSB
The crafty lefty …
LHP Rodney Boone is coming off a 14-strikeout start against Cal State Northridge, looking to keep UC San Diego’s bats quiet.
Keep on swinging …
Freshman tandem Zach Rodriguez and Jordan Sprinkle are both batting a whopping .369 in conference play, with OBP’s above .400.
Dynamic Duo …
Sophomore duo Broc Mortensen and Cole Cummings lead the team in extra base hits in league play at nine a piece.
The brick wall behind the dish …
Junior catcher Gianni Bloom has been a rock behind the plate, having a perfect fielding percentage in league play while throwing out runners on a .571 clip.
Players to watch for: UCSD
On-base machine …
Brock Kleszcz comes into the series swinging a hot bat, batting .375 with a .500 on-base percentage in league play.
Power threat …
Blake Baumgartner posts an impressive 12 RBIs, which accounts for one-fifth of the team’s RBIs in league play.
What a relief …
Relievers Michael Mitchell and Izaak Martinez each have an impressive sub 1.30 earned run average.
Mr. Perfect …
Infielder Ryan McNally has been as sure-handed as they come, having a perfect fielding percentage during league play.
3 keys for a Gauchos series win:
Wake the bats up …
Getting off to a quick start, the Gauchos are 9-2 in conference play when scoring first.
Let the starters go to work …
Relying on strong starting pitching, between starters Boone, McGreevy, Lewis and Torra, the starters have an outstanding sub 2.5 ERA.
Keep on pouring it on …
Look for the big inning, in seven of the 12 conference victories, the Gauchos have had at least one inning of three or more runs.
Where to watch the games …
Game 1: Friday April 16 at 3:00 p.m.
Game 2: Saturday April 17 at 12:00 p.m.
Game 3: Saturday April 17 at 3:00 p.m.
Game 4: Sunday April 18 at 1:00 p.m.
All games will be at Triton Ballpark.
