MORAGA, Calif. (Interstat) — UCLA visits Saint Mary’s on Sunday evening in a nonconference matchup between teams heading in opposite directions. The Bruins (52-7) have the nation’s best record and are riding a three-game winning streak, while the Gaels (32-26) look to rebound after a 14-1 loss at Cal Poly on Saturday.

Right-hander Michael Barnett will start for UCLA. Barnett (4-0 in his past five appearances) threw six innings of three-hit ball in a 6-5 win over Virginia Tech on Saturday, striking out five. He has allowed three earned runs in each of his past three outings but has limited damage, notably tossing 3 2/3 hitless innings at Washington on May 15. Barnett’s lone loss came May 9 against Oregon, when he gave up four runs in 4 1/3 innings.

Saint Mary’s counters with left-hander Talin Gardini. Gardini threw 1 1/3 hitless innings in Saturday’s loss but his recent outings have been uneven. On May 22 against Pacific, he allowed five earned runs in 4 1/3 innings, though he struck out four. His best start came May 16 against San Francisco: three shutout innings with two strikeouts. Gardini will need to contain a UCLA lineup that scored six runs Saturday, keyed by center fielder Will Gasparino (2-for-5, home run, RBI) and third baseman Roman Martin (1-for-4, homer, RBI).

The teams met Friday in Los Angeles, with Saint Mary’s winning 3-2. That result snapped a four-game Bruins winning streak in the series. UCLA has not lost back-to-back games all season.

UCLA’s recent surge includes a 7-5 win over Southern California on May 23 and a 3-2, 11-inning victory over Oregon on May 24. The Bruins have won 11 of their past 12 games overall. Their only blemish over that stretch was a 9-6 loss to Oregon on May 9 — the same day Barnett took the loss.

Saint Mary’s has split its last six games. After Friday’s upset of UCLA, the Gaels lost to the Mustangs on Saturday. Before that, they won two of three: a 10-7 victory over Pacific on May 22 and a 13-4 rout of Gonzaga on May 21. Saint Mary’s has struggled on the road but is 18-10 at home this season.

The weather forecast calls for clear skies and temperatures in the mid-70s at first pitch. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-5 UCLA victory.

First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. local time at Louis Guisto Field.