UCLA has won 14 out of its last 16 games. New Mexico has won 10 straight. Something has to give in Saturday’s game.
No. 2 seed San Diego was just eliminated from the regional by No. 4 seed Creighton, the victim of an Adam Plutko two-hit shutout last night, and will await the loser of tonight’s game.
I watched all of New Mexico’s 4-0 win over San Diego yesterday and they definitely have some hitters in their lineup.
Third baseman D.J. Peterson is hitting .427 (ranked No. 3 in the nation) with 103 hits (tied for No. 1 in the nation) and 17 home runs (tied for No. 9 in the nation). Also, seven of New Mexico’s nine position players are hitting over .300.
This could be the perfect storm for a UNM upset as UCLA turns to sophomore right hander Nick Vander Tuig tonight. Vander Tuig’s ERA (4.94) is the highest of any UCLA starter. He hasn’t thrown a complete game this season so the bullpen will likely get more work than it got last night.
Here are tonight’s lineups. UCLA is the visiting team (Don’t ask me why…I think it’s a stupid rule)
UCLA
25 CF Beau Amaral
8 C Tyler Heineman
7 LF Cody Keefer
20 RF Jeff Gelalich
11 2B Trevor Brown
10 SS Pat Valaika
18 1B Cody Regis
23 DH Brenton Allen
3 3B Kevin Kramer
21 RHP Nick Vander Tuig
New Mexico
10 C Mitchell Garver
5 LF Ben Woodchick
33 3B D.J. Peterson
34 RF Ryan Padilla
12 CF Josh Melendez
40 1B Trey Porras
11 2B Kyle Stiner
3 DH Alex Real
4 SS Alex Allbritton
24 RHP Gera Sanchez