UCLA baseball shows promise for 2018 season in alumni game

Source: dailybruin.com --- Monday, January 29, 2018
Cleveland Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer got the start for the UCLA alumni team Saturday – and the 2018 Bruins capitalized. The current team topped the Bruin alumni 5-3, scoring 3 runs on 4 hits off the major leaguer in his four innings pitched. “For a lot of people, that might be their only chance to face someone in the bigs,” said sophomore first baseman Michael Toglia. “I was just trying to enjoy it and get the most out of it as I could.” Toglia led the 2018 team with 3 hits and 3 RBIs. After a slow start to the 2017 season, Toglia finished with a .261 batting average, recording 8 home runs and 33 RBIs on the year. “It’s a big feel thing,” Toglia said. “Once the first one comes, they kind of come in clusters. The biggest thing is trying to just get it going.” Senior pitcher Jake Bird was the starter for the 2018 Bruins. He pitched four innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits and one strikeout. “It’s a cool experience,” Bird said. “I got to pitch against Trevor Bauer and throw against some big league hitters. It gives me a little taste of hopefully what I’m doing in a few years.” The 2018 Bruins got the scoring started when junior center fielder Daniel Amaral led off the first inning with a walk. He then stole second and would later score on an RBI groundout by Toglia to give the Bruins an early lead. The alumni answered with a two-run home run in the second inning by Brett Stephens, who was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in 2017. T ...

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