University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Friday, April 17
Los Angeles, CA
7:00 PM (PT)
UCLA
34-3, 19-0
4
vs
2
Minnesota
22-15, 5-11
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| UCLA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 4 | 4 | 0 |
Cal Randall
Photo by: UCLA Athletics
Pitching Staff Shines as No. 1 UCLA Locks Down 4-2 Victory Over Minnesota
April 17, 2026 | Baseball
LOS ANGELES – The No. 1-ranked UCLA baseball team rode a standout pitching effort and a decisive four-run fifth inning to claim a 4-2 series-opening win over Minnesota on Friday night at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
The Bruins (34-3, 19-0 Big Ten) bounced back immediately after Tuesday's setback, leaning on another strong outing from undefeated right-hander Logan Reddemann (8-0) and a shutdown performance from the bullpen to secure their 19th straight conference victory.
Reddemann worked around a season-high three walks but consistently delivered big pitches when needed, limiting the Gophers to just three hits and two earned runs over 6.0 innings while striking out five. The junior righty held Minnesota scoreless through the first three frames and kept UCLA within striking distance until the offense broke through.
That breakthrough came in the fifth, when the Bruins strung together their most productive inning of the night. Singles from Will Gasparino, Cashel Dugger, and Aiden Aguayo fueled a four-run surge, with UCLA capitalizing on traffic and timely swings to flip a 2-0 deficit into a 4-2 lead. Dean West also contributed a double earlier in the game, one of just four UCLA hits on the night.
From there, the bullpen took over. Cal Randall punched out two in a scoreless seventh, Zach Strickland retired the side in order in the eighth, and Easton Hawk closed the door in the ninth to earn his seventh save of the season.
Neither side managed to put a runner on base through the first three innings, as both pitching staffs traded zeroes in a fast-moving start. Minnesota finally broke through in the fourth, stringing together a two-out walk and a pair of well-placed singles to push across the night's first two runs.
UCLA wasted no time responding. The Bruins erupted for four runs in the bottom of the fifth to seize control, igniting the crowd at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Payton Brennan jump-started the rally after being hit by a pitch, and Gasparino followed by shooting a single into center to put two aboard. Dugger delivered the first blow, hammering a double off the wall in left to plate UCLA's opening run.
With momentum shifting, Trey Gudoy worked a walk to load the bases for Aguayo, who ripped a sharp liner into right to tie the game. Still threatening with the bags full, the Bruins kept the pressure on as West and Cholowsky lifted back-to-back sacrifice flies to right, completing the four-run surge and flipping the score in UCLA's favor.
Reddemann spun a clean sixth to keep the Bruins in front, and the bullpen slammed the door from there. Randall, Strickland, and Hawk each delivered a scoreless inning in succession, combining for three shutout frames to lock down the series-opening win for UCLA.
The Bruins return to Jackie Robinson Stadium tomorrow at 2 p.m. for game two of the series. Live coverage will be available on B1G+.
The Bruins (34-3, 19-0 Big Ten) bounced back immediately after Tuesday's setback, leaning on another strong outing from undefeated right-hander Logan Reddemann (8-0) and a shutdown performance from the bullpen to secure their 19th straight conference victory.
Reddemann worked around a season-high three walks but consistently delivered big pitches when needed, limiting the Gophers to just three hits and two earned runs over 6.0 innings while striking out five. The junior righty held Minnesota scoreless through the first three frames and kept UCLA within striking distance until the offense broke through.
That breakthrough came in the fifth, when the Bruins strung together their most productive inning of the night. Singles from Will Gasparino, Cashel Dugger, and Aiden Aguayo fueled a four-run surge, with UCLA capitalizing on traffic and timely swings to flip a 2-0 deficit into a 4-2 lead. Dean West also contributed a double earlier in the game, one of just four UCLA hits on the night.
From there, the bullpen took over. Cal Randall punched out two in a scoreless seventh, Zach Strickland retired the side in order in the eighth, and Easton Hawk closed the door in the ninth to earn his seventh save of the season.
Neither side managed to put a runner on base through the first three innings, as both pitching staffs traded zeroes in a fast-moving start. Minnesota finally broke through in the fourth, stringing together a two-out walk and a pair of well-placed singles to push across the night's first two runs.
UCLA wasted no time responding. The Bruins erupted for four runs in the bottom of the fifth to seize control, igniting the crowd at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Payton Brennan jump-started the rally after being hit by a pitch, and Gasparino followed by shooting a single into center to put two aboard. Dugger delivered the first blow, hammering a double off the wall in left to plate UCLA's opening run.
With momentum shifting, Trey Gudoy worked a walk to load the bases for Aguayo, who ripped a sharp liner into right to tie the game. Still threatening with the bags full, the Bruins kept the pressure on as West and Cholowsky lifted back-to-back sacrifice flies to right, completing the four-run surge and flipping the score in UCLA's favor.
Reddemann spun a clean sixth to keep the Bruins in front, and the bullpen slammed the door from there. Randall, Strickland, and Hawk each delivered a scoreless inning in succession, combining for three shutout frames to lock down the series-opening win for UCLA.
The Bruins return to Jackie Robinson Stadium tomorrow at 2 p.m. for game two of the series. Live coverage will be available on B1G+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Reddemann, Logan (8-0)
L: Selvig, Cole (4-3)
S: Hawk, Easton (7)
Batting:
2B: Hunt, Sam 1 ; Mosh, Jack 1
3B: Sutherland, Charlie 1
RBI: Sutherland, Charlie 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Neels, Weber 1 ; Richter, Easton 1
Batting:
2B: West, Dean 1 ; Dugger, Cashel 1
RBI: West, Dean 1 ; Cholowsky, Roch 1 ; Dugger, Cashel 1 ; Aguayo, Aiden 1
SF: West, Dean 1 ; Cholowsky, Roch 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brennan, Payton 1 ; Gasparino, Will 1 ; Dugger, Cashel 1 ; Gudoy, Trey 1
HBP: Martin, Roman 1 ; Brennan, Payton 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
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RHP
/ BaseballHighlights - UCLA Baseball vs. Minnesota (April 17, 2026)
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