I didn't realize this but UCLA was the #2 national seed last year...

[dawgstudent]

and they have pretty much the same pitching staff.

 

[Drebin]

and they have pretty much the same pitching staff.

They are going to be tough to beat. It's easy to see their team batting average and like the matchup, but they completely shut down some really good offensive teams in this tournament. They don't make mistakes. They play plus defense and have better pitching than we do. For all the talk about how this park benefits us, well, it benefits them even more with their style of play. Expect a couple of low scoring games. We can't make errors and give them anything, that's for sure.

 

[Center Z]

We can hit, and we can pitch. They can pitch, but can they hit? If I were forced to pick a difference maker in the series, that would be it.

 

[FlabLoser]

This is where I like that we are a good small ball team.

 

[HueFreeze]

I have a feeling 3rd base is going to make or break our series against UCLA.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

They've also been to three of the last four College World Series-- including this year of course. They will be tough to beat.

 

[Drebin]

We can hit, and we can pitch. They can pitch, but can they hit? If I were forced to pick a difference maker in the series, that would be it.

This is what LSU and North Carolina thought. Just sayin'.

 

[patdog]

I think we match up against them a little better than LSU and UNC did.

 

[kired]

I hope our players don't look at message boards. You'd get the feeling we've already won this thing from the way a lot of people are talking. UCLA is legit. They've given up 13 runs in 8 postseason games. 7 of those runs were in the first two of their regional. They've given up 6 runs in their last 6 games, against teams like LSU, UNC, and Cal St Fulerton.

I'm proud of how far we've come but it's one of those things... the closer you get, the more you want it. We better be swinging some hot bats.

 

[MSUDC11]

They've got the experience factor in their favor. Been here a lot recently and probably feel like it's finally their time to win it all.

I can't stress how important it is for us to play great defense and not walk anyone. They feast on that. I don't believe they can hit Girodo, Mitchell, Holder, or Graveman very well. We just can't help them out and and we definitely can't waste opportunities in our at-bats.

 

[drt7891]

I feel we have an advantage here. UNC and LSU both wanted to play long ball with them... With the park and their pitching, it plays right into their favor. I look for us to play some small ball.

 

[RougeDawg]

LSU used the "Grip and Rip" approach, while UNC should have been out after..

This is what LSU and North Carolina thought. Just sayin'.

Regionals. I told some guy that lives in Omaha, during the Indiana game, that the only teams that really scared me where OSU and LSU, because both had pitching and hitting. LSU's hitters didnt come through in the clutch, and we put OSU out. UCLA wins by taking advantage of their opponents mistakes. We limit mistakes and walks, and we win this thing.

Oh, and I am not getting a damn thing done at work today. Cant stand the suspense.