UCLA sticks at No. 1 in Coaches Poll despite first Big Ten loss

Even with a loss to the Oregon Ducks over the weekend, the UCLA Bruins remain atop this week’s USA TODAY baseball coaches poll. The top spot is familiar territory for the Bruins, who have sat at No. 1 since early March.

UCLA finally dropped a conference game, falling to the Ducks on Saturday but still took the series. The Bruins still possess a 26-1 conference record and UCLA appears to be getting healthier for the stretch run.

It was announced that UCLA ace Logan Reddemann will begin “ramping back up” on Monday. Reddemann has missed his past three starts due to arm fatigue. Reddemann’s caution makes sense, he’s projected to go in the first round of this year’s MLB draft and has been one of the most lethal pitchers in the country this season.

The Bruins garnered all 30 of the first place votes in this week’s coaches poll, even with the now 46-5 UCLA suffering a rare loss. The 46 wins is the most amongst the entire Top-25, with No. 3 Georgia Tech having the second-most wins with 42.

Along with Reddemann’s return, UCLA has seen shortstop Roch Cholowsky play at a superstar level over the past few weeks. Cholowsky homered three times in the series against Oregon, which only fueled speculation surrounding who will select Cholowsky in this year’s draft.

Oregon dropped one spot in the poll despite playing a very competitive series against the Bruins, with the Ducks dropping to No. 15. Elsewhere in the Big Ten, USC climbed three spots to No. 13 and Nebraska also moved up three spots, with the now occupying No. 21. No other Big Ten teams received votes.