LOS ANGELES – The No. 1-ranked UCLA baseball team powered its way to a 7-2 win over UC San Diego on Saturday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Stadium, belting three home runs to secure its second straight victory to open the 2026 season.
Senior right-hander Michael Barnett (1-0) set the tone with a composed, five-inning outing, allowing just one run on two hits while striking out four to earn his first win of the year.
Behind him, the Bruins' offense clicked early and often. Cashel Dugger delivered a standout performance, going 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored. The veteran catcher also made his presence felt defensively, erasing a runner at third with a snap throw in the second inning.
Roch Cholowsky jump-started the scoring with a first-inning solo shot as part of a 2-for-4 day, while Payton Brennan logged his second consecutive multi-hit game and launched his first homer of the season. Mulivai Levu added two hits, and Dean West, Roman Martin, Will Gasparino, and Trey Gudoy each contributed singles.
UC San Diego struck first when Gabe Camacho ambushed a first-pitch fastball for a solo homer in the opening frame. UCLA wasted no time responding when Cholowsky hammered a first-pitch breaking ball to left-center to even the score.
The Bruins grabbed the lead in the second after Dugger's leadoff double, with freshman Aidan Aguayo lifting a sacrifice fly to right to bring him home. UCLA extended the margin to 3-1 in the fifth, capitalizing on back-to-back doubles from Cholowsky and Levu before Martin's RBI groundout.
Barnett settled into a groove after the early home run, retiring 12 of the final 13 batters he faced and not allowing a hit after the second inning. He handed the ball to Wylan Moss, who delivered 2.2 scoreless frames with four strikeouts.
UCLA broke the game open with a four-run eighth inning. Brennan led off with a laser over the right-field wall, and Gasparino followed with his first collegiate hit, a triple into the left-field corner. Dugger then capped his big day by crushing a two-run homer off the scoreboard in right-center field. Gudoy added his first career hit to keep the rally going, and West's double plus a sacrifice fly from Cholowsky rounded out the inning.
Cal Randall entered with two outs in the eighth and promptly froze a hitter for a strikeout to end the threat. Angel Cervantes closed the ninth, allowing one run before Brennan sealed the win with a diving catch in right field for the final out.
UCLA will look to complete the sweep in Sunday's series finale at Jackie Robinson Stadium. First pitch is set for 1 p.m., with junior right-hander Landon Stump slated to take the mound. Fans can watch live on B1G+.
Senior right-hander Michael Barnett (1-0) set the tone with a composed, five-inning outing, allowing just one run on two hits while striking out four to earn his first win of the year.
Behind him, the Bruins' offense clicked early and often. Cashel Dugger delivered a standout performance, going 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored. The veteran catcher also made his presence felt defensively, erasing a runner at third with a snap throw in the second inning.
Roch Cholowsky jump-started the scoring with a first-inning solo shot as part of a 2-for-4 day, while Payton Brennan logged his second consecutive multi-hit game and launched his first homer of the season. Mulivai Levu added two hits, and Dean West, Roman Martin, Will Gasparino, and Trey Gudoy each contributed singles.
UC San Diego struck first when Gabe Camacho ambushed a first-pitch fastball for a solo homer in the opening frame. UCLA wasted no time responding when Cholowsky hammered a first-pitch breaking ball to left-center to even the score.
The Bruins grabbed the lead in the second after Dugger's leadoff double, with freshman Aidan Aguayo lifting a sacrifice fly to right to bring him home. UCLA extended the margin to 3-1 in the fifth, capitalizing on back-to-back doubles from Cholowsky and Levu before Martin's RBI groundout.
Barnett settled into a groove after the early home run, retiring 12 of the final 13 batters he faced and not allowing a hit after the second inning. He handed the ball to Wylan Moss, who delivered 2.2 scoreless frames with four strikeouts.
UCLA broke the game open with a four-run eighth inning. Brennan led off with a laser over the right-field wall, and Gasparino followed with his first collegiate hit, a triple into the left-field corner. Dugger then capped his big day by crushing a two-run homer off the scoreboard in right-center field. Gudoy added his first career hit to keep the rally going, and West's double plus a sacrifice fly from Cholowsky rounded out the inning.
Cal Randall entered with two outs in the eighth and promptly froze a hitter for a strikeout to end the threat. Angel Cervantes closed the ninth, allowing one run before Brennan sealed the win with a diving catch in right field for the final out.
UCLA will look to complete the sweep in Sunday's series finale at Jackie Robinson Stadium. First pitch is set for 1 p.m., with junior right-hander Landon Stump slated to take the mound. Fans can watch live on B1G+.