Tuesday, February 18
Los Angeles, CA
5:00 PM (PT)
UCLA
vs
BYU
Roch Cholowsky
Photo by: Mac Brown
UCLA Hosts BYU for Midweek Clash
February 17, 2025 | Baseball
LOS ANGELES - UCLA baseball will host BYU for its first midweek game of the 2025 season Tuesday at 5 p.m. PT. The contest will be streamed on B1G+, with Nick Koop and Sid Iyer on the call. Fans can also follow along with live stats (StatBroadcast) and X/Twitter updates (@UCLABaseball).
ย
GAME INFORMATION
Venue:ย Jackie Robinson Stadium
Stream:ย B1G+
Talent:ย Nick Koop (play-by-play),ย Sid Iyerย (analyst)
Live Stats:ย ucla.statbroadcast.com
ย
THE RUNDOWNย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
PROJECTED PITCHING MATCHUP
Tuesday, Feb. 18 - 5 p.m. PTย
UCLA - Fr. RHPย Wylan Mossย (0-0)
BYU โ R-Fr. RHP Cayson Bell (0-0)
ย
LAST TIME OUT
After Roman Martin's go-ahead RBI single gave lifted UCLA to victory in Friday night's season opener, the offense exploded for 34 runs over the next two games to complete the three-game sweep over Cal Poly. UCLA won the series 37-4 on aggregate. The Bruins received some solid starts from Cody Delvecchio, Ian May, and Landon Stump, but the bullpen truly shined, combining for 11 scoreless innings, allowing just seven hits while striking out 17. UCLA's 18-run display on Saturday afternoon was the most runs scored since Feb. 18, 2023 when the Bruins scored 23 in their victory over Omaha.
ย
SOPHOMORE BATS LEADING THE OFFENSE
Sophomore Mulivai Levu enjoyed an excellent weekend at the plate, going 6-for-13 with seven RBIs and a pair of home runs to lead UCLA's impressive offensive effort. UCLA's leadoff hitter, Dean West, scored a team-high seven runs and slashed .500/.733/1.000 in the first weekend. The Woodland Hills native reached base in 11 of his 15 plate appearances, going 4-for-8 with six walks and a hit-by-pitch. West also flashed some power, launching his first career home run in the season finale.
ย
ABOUT THE COUGARSย ย
UCLA will take on BYU for the first time in 48 years as the teams last met during the 1977 season (exact date unavailable). The Bruins prevailed 10-4 in the most recent contest against the Cougars. BYU posted a 21-31 overall record and went 7-23 in its inaugural season in the Big 12. Eight of the Cougars' top 10 hitters return in 2025 along with the addition of transfer Ryder Robinson (TCU). BYU also returns most of its pitching staff, along with Utah transfer Jaden Harris who could be expected to occupy a spot in the weekend rotation.
ย
BRUIN DEBUTSย
Seven Bruins made their collegiate debuts over the weekend, including position players Logan de Groot, Grant Gray, and Kasen Khansarinia. On the mound, Jack O'Connor, Wylan Moss, Josh Alger, CJ Bott toed the rubber for the first time in the college careers. Additionally, two transfers, Ian May and Ryan Rissas, made their UCLA debuts.
ย
READY TO ROCHย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
UCLA sophomore shortstop Roch Cholowsky was named to the Perfect Game Preseason All-Big Ten team. Cholowsky is coming off an impressive freshman campaign with a team-leading .308 batting average and eight homers. The Chandler Ariz. native received Second Team Freshman All-American acclaim (Perfect Game) and a Pac-12 Honorable Mention nod. Cholowksy was the lone Bruin to start all 52 games. He was red hot in the closing stages of 2024, slashing .391/.452/.766 with seven home runs and 18 RBIs over the final 16 games of the season. Recently, Cholowsky was named the No.9 shortstop in the country by D1Baseball.com.
ย
FRIENDLY CONFINESย ย ย ย ย
With a sweep over Stanford in the final weekend of the 2024 regular season, UCLA clinched its ninth consecutive season with a winning record at Jackie Robinson Stadium. The Bruins have had a losing record at home just twice over the last 20 seasons, last occurring in 2014 (11-20).
ย
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCKย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
UCLA added 11 newcomers ahead of the 2025 season, including eight freshmen and three transfers. Coach Savage has bolstered his pitching staff with three pitchers joining via the transfer portal. Left-hander Ian May (California) will look to occupy a spot in the starting rotation after logging 20 starts and 90.0 total innings for the Golden Bears. Fellow southpaw Ryan Rissas (UC San Diego) helped lead the Tritons to their first-ever Big West title in 2023. August Souza (Santa Clara) brings 43 appearances worth of experience after spending a total of five seasons (including 2020 Covid-shortened season) at Santa Clara.
ย
ย
GAME INFORMATION
Venue:ย Jackie Robinson Stadium
Stream:ย B1G+
Talent:ย Nick Koop (play-by-play),ย Sid Iyerย (analyst)
Live Stats:ย ucla.statbroadcast.com
ย
THE RUNDOWNย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
- The Bruins swept Cal Poly on opening weekend, out-scoring the Mustangs 37-4 over the three-game set
- Mulivai Levu led the offensive explosion, going 6-for-13 with seven RBI and a pair of home runs
- UCLA's leadoff hitter, Dean West, reached base in 11 of his 15 plate appearances, slashing .500/.733/1.000
- UCLA was 15-11 last season at home
- The Bruins were 9-21 in Pac-12 play last season
- UCLA enters its inaugural season in the Big Ten in 2025
- In 2023, the Bruins welcomed the top signing class in the country
- The Bruins went 5-6 in midweek contests in 2024, with wins against Nevada, LBSU, UCSB, LMU, and Pepperdine
- Roch Cholowsky returns for his sophomore season after receiving Freshman All-American acclaim (Perfect Game).
- UCLA relievers have yet to allow a run, combining for 11 scoreless innings, allowing just seven hits while striking out 17
- Cholowsky hit a team-high .308 with eight homers in 2024.
- The Bruins started multiple players at all nine defensive positions (plus DH) in 2024
- The program has posted 15 winning records in 20 seasons under HC John Savage
- Duce Gourson, Cody Schrier, and Luke Jewett were selected in the 2024 MLB Draft
- The Bruins were picked to finish fourth in the Big Ten Preseason Poll
- Roch Cholowsky, Cody Delvecchio, and Dean West were named Big Ten Players to Watch
- UCLA is coming off a 19-33 campaign, snapping a streak of seven consecutive winning seasons
- Three transfer pitchers (Ian May - Cal, Ryan Rissas - UCSD, August Souza - Santa Clara) bolster UCLA's pitching staff
PROJECTED PITCHING MATCHUP
Tuesday, Feb. 18 - 5 p.m. PTย
UCLA - Fr. RHPย Wylan Mossย (0-0)
BYU โ R-Fr. RHP Cayson Bell (0-0)
ย
LAST TIME OUT
After Roman Martin's go-ahead RBI single gave lifted UCLA to victory in Friday night's season opener, the offense exploded for 34 runs over the next two games to complete the three-game sweep over Cal Poly. UCLA won the series 37-4 on aggregate. The Bruins received some solid starts from Cody Delvecchio, Ian May, and Landon Stump, but the bullpen truly shined, combining for 11 scoreless innings, allowing just seven hits while striking out 17. UCLA's 18-run display on Saturday afternoon was the most runs scored since Feb. 18, 2023 when the Bruins scored 23 in their victory over Omaha.
ย
SOPHOMORE BATS LEADING THE OFFENSE
Sophomore Mulivai Levu enjoyed an excellent weekend at the plate, going 6-for-13 with seven RBIs and a pair of home runs to lead UCLA's impressive offensive effort. UCLA's leadoff hitter, Dean West, scored a team-high seven runs and slashed .500/.733/1.000 in the first weekend. The Woodland Hills native reached base in 11 of his 15 plate appearances, going 4-for-8 with six walks and a hit-by-pitch. West also flashed some power, launching his first career home run in the season finale.
ย
ABOUT THE COUGARSย ย
UCLA will take on BYU for the first time in 48 years as the teams last met during the 1977 season (exact date unavailable). The Bruins prevailed 10-4 in the most recent contest against the Cougars. BYU posted a 21-31 overall record and went 7-23 in its inaugural season in the Big 12. Eight of the Cougars' top 10 hitters return in 2025 along with the addition of transfer Ryder Robinson (TCU). BYU also returns most of its pitching staff, along with Utah transfer Jaden Harris who could be expected to occupy a spot in the weekend rotation.
ย
BRUIN DEBUTSย
Seven Bruins made their collegiate debuts over the weekend, including position players Logan de Groot, Grant Gray, and Kasen Khansarinia. On the mound, Jack O'Connor, Wylan Moss, Josh Alger, CJ Bott toed the rubber for the first time in the college careers. Additionally, two transfers, Ian May and Ryan Rissas, made their UCLA debuts.
ย
READY TO ROCHย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
UCLA sophomore shortstop Roch Cholowsky was named to the Perfect Game Preseason All-Big Ten team. Cholowsky is coming off an impressive freshman campaign with a team-leading .308 batting average and eight homers. The Chandler Ariz. native received Second Team Freshman All-American acclaim (Perfect Game) and a Pac-12 Honorable Mention nod. Cholowksy was the lone Bruin to start all 52 games. He was red hot in the closing stages of 2024, slashing .391/.452/.766 with seven home runs and 18 RBIs over the final 16 games of the season. Recently, Cholowsky was named the No.9 shortstop in the country by D1Baseball.com.
ย
FRIENDLY CONFINESย ย ย ย ย
With a sweep over Stanford in the final weekend of the 2024 regular season, UCLA clinched its ninth consecutive season with a winning record at Jackie Robinson Stadium. The Bruins have had a losing record at home just twice over the last 20 seasons, last occurring in 2014 (11-20).
ย
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCKย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
UCLA added 11 newcomers ahead of the 2025 season, including eight freshmen and three transfers. Coach Savage has bolstered his pitching staff with three pitchers joining via the transfer portal. Left-hander Ian May (California) will look to occupy a spot in the starting rotation after logging 20 starts and 90.0 total innings for the Golden Bears. Fellow southpaw Ryan Rissas (UC San Diego) helped lead the Tritons to their first-ever Big West title in 2023. August Souza (Santa Clara) brings 43 appearances worth of experience after spending a total of five seasons (including 2020 Covid-shortened season) at Santa Clara.
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