UCLA Looks to Continue Hot Start in Rainy Big Ten Opener at Ohio State

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Interstat) — The UCLA Bruins, off to one of the nation’s best starts, open a three-game Big Ten series against the Ohio State Buckeyes under the threat of rain Friday evening at Bill Davis Stadium.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. under a forecast of 62 degrees and rain. The non-conference matchup is part of the Big Ten’s early-season scheduling.

The Bruins (10-2) bring significant momentum to Columbus, having won eight of their last nine games. They are coming off a 4-3, 10-inning victory over Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday. UCLA’s potent offense has scored 10 or more runs in five games this season.

Ohio State (5-6) seeks to steady itself after a 13-4 midweek loss to Xavier. The Buckeyes have lost four of their last five contests, with their pitching staff struggling during the stretch.

A key player to watch for UCLA is reliever Zach Strickland. The right-hander has been effective lately, tossing 2 1/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts in Tuesday’s win. Over his last two appearances, he has 4 1/3 innings pitched with seven strikeouts.

For Ohio State, right-handed pitcher Nick Sawyer will look to find consistency. Sawyer took the loss against Xavier on Wednesday, allowing one earned run over two innings. In his last four outings, he has a mix of scoreless appearances and outings where he has surrendered runs.

The Bruins’ recent success includes a road series win at then-Tennessee and a victory over then-Texas A&M. Ohio State’s highlights are fewer, with a road series win at Memphis in late February standing out.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, UCLA is projected to win 8-5.

The series continues Saturday and Sunday in Columbus before both teams return to their respective coasts for further non-conference play.