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The number 15 has been a lot kinder this season to the UCLA men’s baseball team than it was last season.

Last year, the Bruins won a total of 15 games en route to a 15-41 record. After sweeping San Diego State (6-20) this past weekend by slanted scores of 14-6, 12-2, and 9-1, UCLA (15-11) matched last season’s win total before entering conference play. UCLA also earned its first home sweep in five years and has won 10 of its last 12 games.

In contrast, the Aztecs came into town frustrated and left even more so, as owners of a 10-game losing streak.

“The hard thing about being a college coach is that the experience I have, I can’t pass it on to these guys,” SDSU coach Tony Gwynn said. “We didn’t pitch real well, we didn’t play defense, we certainly didn’t swing the bats real well. And you throw all that in together and it’s a very ugly drink. And it was freaking disgusting.”

Bruin staff ace Hector Ambriz got the team off on the right foot Friday night, getting the win after going eight innings with eight strikeouts and giving up only one run.

“I threw strikes with all my pitches, and the defense played really well,” Ambriz said. The junior right-hander also helped himself out, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs.

“It just seems like the whole team is hitting the ball well,” Ambriz said. “(We’re) using the whole field and everyone’s making good contact.”

Senior second-baseman Sean Smith had a monster day, going 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs on a single, a triple and a home run. The second baseman ended the day a double short of hitting for the cycle before taking a seat at the end of the game with a spasm in his rib cage.

The Bruins led the Aztecs 14-1 until the top of the ninth, when they allowed the visitors to score five runs.

UCLA started off with hot bats again on Saturday, giving starter Dave Huff 12 runs of support en route to the victory. Huff struck out five in eight innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and zero walks, giving him the win.

Ambriz had another big game at the plate, helping out his fellow pitcher with a 2-for-2 performance that included a home run and four RBIs.

Sunday was the scene of another stellar pitching performance, this time from Tyson Brummett, who got the win after pitching seven innings of one-run baseball.

“Our starting pitching has been really good,” Savage said. “It’s a good rotation. Its versatile. It’s right-left-right, so they get a lot of different looks throughout the weekend.”

UCLA took advantage of three Aztec errors in the field and a strong showing at the plate from junior Tim Stewart, who went 2-for-2 with a double and a home run. With the dinger on Sunday, the Bruins have now homered in their last 13 games.

The defensive play of the game came in the top of the sixth inning when freshman shortstop Brandon Crawford laid out to his right and snagged a line-drive single away from Aztec senior Paul Smythe.

“You know, he’s a great athlete,” Savage said. “I think the people here at UCLA are just seeing a rising player.”

The Bruins have one more non-conference game, playing at UC Riverside on March 28 before opening Pac-10 play at Washington.

The Bruins are confident about the start of the conference schedule.

“We’re playing really well the last three weeks or so,” Smith said. “So hopefully we’ll be ranked going in too.”

INJURY REPORT: Closer Brant Rustich, who has been out with tendon inflammation in his middle finger, will be on the shelf for another three weeks. Freshman Tim Murphy will also be out another three weeks with a bone injury. The Bruins are hoping to have him back in time for the series against the Arizona schools.