Leading Off
The Omaha baseball team will officially begin its 2023 season with a three-game road series at UCLA, starting this Friday at 7 p.m. (CT) in Los Angeles, Calif.

Weekend Schedule
Friday: 7 p.m. in Jackie Robinson Stadium
Saturday: 4 p.m. in Jackie Robinson Stadium
Sunday: 3 p.m. in Jackie Robinson Stadium

Around the Horn

• Last year, Omaha went 26-31 overall and 12-12 in the Summit League, advancing all the way to the league championship but falling just short to Oral Roberts.
• The Mavericks and Bruins faced off for only the second time ever last season. On February 23, Omaha headed down to L.A. and pulled off a shocker, taking down No. 21 UCLA 9-4.
• The Bruins are the first of four Power 5 opponents Omaha will face this year, with games against Nebraska, Arkansas, and Penn State all coming later in the season.
• Just as they finished as the runner up in Summit League, Omaha ranked second in multiple statistical categories as well last year, including hits (490), walks (268), doubles (99), and strikeouts (470).
• Overall, the Mavericks hit .254 as a team in 2022 while the pitching staff put up a 4.75 ERA.
• Reigning Summit League Player of the Year Mike Boeve is back to lead the Mavericks after putting up one of the all-time greatest seasons in Mavericks history last year. The third basemen did nothing but hit, slashing .364/.491/.584 and launching eight home runs. He also stole 12 bases and was a bulwark at the hot corner, racking up 36 putouts and 87 assists.
• Fellow returners Eduardo Rosario (.768 OPS), Eddie Satisky (.741 OPS), and Devin Hurdle (.650 OPS) are likely to join Boeve in the starting lineup tomorrow, while Noah Greise (.761 OPS) and Drew Reetz (.722 OPS) will look to make an impact as well.
• 2022 Summit League Newcomer of the Year Caleb Riedel leads Omaha's rotation after posting the second-best ERA in the NCAA last year at 1.49. Charlie Bell (3.82 ERA) and Harrison Kreiling (3.06 ERA) return as veteran starters behind Riedel, while seven newcomers including JUCO standouts Preston Tenney, Kai Reum, and Rans Sanders all have the talent to make an impact as well. 

Scouting UCLA
The Bruins are coming off a 40-24 season in which they went 19-11 in the Pac 12 and advanced to the Divisional Final in the conference tournament where they fell 7-8 to Oregon State. UCLA still earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament and made it all the way to the Regional Finals, but were defeated by Auburn 11-4.

In 2022, six Bruins posted an OPS above .800 with at least 100 at bats, three of whom return this year: junior Carson Yates (.858), sophomore Cody Schrier (.875), and sophomore Duce Gourson (.894). Gourson in particular had a historic rookie season, setting UCLA's freshman record with 23 doubles and being named a 2022 Freshman All-American. 

UCLA's rotation is led by junior RHP and probable Opening Day starter Jake Brooks who posted a 3.96 ERA last year. Sophomore righty Alonzo Tredwell (2.11 ERA) and senior righty Kelly Austin (4.09 ERA) round out the Bruins' prospective starters for the series.

Head Coach John Savage is in his 19th season with the Bruins, owning a 629-406 record. During this time he has led UCLA to 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, including a 2013 run that culminated in the program's first NCAA baseball title. Before coming to UCLA, Savage spent three years at the helm of UC Irvine, going 88-84 and reaching the NCAA Tournament in 2004.