University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Saturday, April 18
Los Angeles, CA
2:00 PM (PT)
UCLA
35-3, 20-0
6
vs
4
Minnesota
22-16, 5-12
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| UCLA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | X | 6 | 10 | 0 |
Payton Brennan
Photo by: Ross Turteltaub
No. 1 UCLA Rallies Late to Earn Series-Clinching Win Over Minnesota, 6-4
April 18, 2026 | Baseball
LOS ANGELES – The No. 1-ranked UCLA baseball team rallied late to secure a 6–4 win over Minnesota on Saturday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Stadium, clinching the weekend series.
The Bruins (35-3, 20-0 Big Ten) responded immediately after the Golden Gophers' two-run sixth, erupting for four runs in the home half to take control. UCLA's relief corps handled the rest, stringing together key outs down the stretch to preserve the victory and extend the program's unbeaten conference run.
Eight of UCLA's nine starters recorded a hit, with Mulivai Levu and Roman Martin anchoring the middle of the order. Both finished with two hits and two RBIs, providing the bulk of the Bruins' run production.
At the top of the lineup, Dean West reached base four times, drawing three walks and opening the game with a single. Roch Cholowsky matched him by reaching four times as well, going 1-for-2 with two hit-by-pitches and a walk.
Payton Brennan delivered one of the game's biggest swings, launching his seventh home run of the season as part of a 1-for-4 day. Cashel Dugger, Trey Gudoy, and Aiden Aguayo each added a hit to round out UCLA's balanced attack.
On the mound, Michael Barnett set the tone with 4.1 innings of one-run ball, allowing just two hits. The bullpen took over from there: Jake Swenson and Chris Grothues each logged scoreless outings before turning the ball over to Wylan Moss (4-0), who earned his fourth win of the year.
Justin Lee recorded two outs in the eighth, and Easton Hawk finished the job, completing a four-out save, his eighth of the season, to close out the series-clinching win.
The Gophers scratched across a run in the top of the first, turning a leadoff single into a manufactured 1-0 lead.
UCLA pulled even in the fifth, when Martin punched a sharp single through the left side to bring home Dean West from third and tie the game at 1-1.
Minnesota briefly regained the lead in the sixth on a two-run homer from Ty Allen, but the Bruins answered immediately in the bottom half.
UCLA erupted for four runs on four hits in the home half of the inning to take control. Brennan ignited the rally by drilling a solo shot off the hitting facility in right. Gudoy followed with a walk, and Cholowsky was hit by a pitch to put two aboard. With two outs, Levu ripped a double down the right-field line, scoring Gudoy and allowing Cholowsky to race home from first. Martin added one more, dropping a bloop single into right to plate Levu and cap the four-run surge.
Minnesota cut the deficit to one in the eighth on a solo homer from Weber Neels, but UCLA immediately answered again. West worked a walk, and Cholowsky singled him to third. Moments later, Levu grounded into a double play that brought West home, restoring a two-run cushion heading into the ninth.
Hawk finished off his four-out save with a perfect ninth, securing his second save in as many days.
The Bruins return to Jackie Robinson Stadium tomorrow at 12 p.m. PT for the series finale. Live coverage will be available on B1G+.
The Bruins (35-3, 20-0 Big Ten) responded immediately after the Golden Gophers' two-run sixth, erupting for four runs in the home half to take control. UCLA's relief corps handled the rest, stringing together key outs down the stretch to preserve the victory and extend the program's unbeaten conference run.
Eight of UCLA's nine starters recorded a hit, with Mulivai Levu and Roman Martin anchoring the middle of the order. Both finished with two hits and two RBIs, providing the bulk of the Bruins' run production.
At the top of the lineup, Dean West reached base four times, drawing three walks and opening the game with a single. Roch Cholowsky matched him by reaching four times as well, going 1-for-2 with two hit-by-pitches and a walk.
Payton Brennan delivered one of the game's biggest swings, launching his seventh home run of the season as part of a 1-for-4 day. Cashel Dugger, Trey Gudoy, and Aiden Aguayo each added a hit to round out UCLA's balanced attack.
On the mound, Michael Barnett set the tone with 4.1 innings of one-run ball, allowing just two hits. The bullpen took over from there: Jake Swenson and Chris Grothues each logged scoreless outings before turning the ball over to Wylan Moss (4-0), who earned his fourth win of the year.
Justin Lee recorded two outs in the eighth, and Easton Hawk finished the job, completing a four-out save, his eighth of the season, to close out the series-clinching win.
The Gophers scratched across a run in the top of the first, turning a leadoff single into a manufactured 1-0 lead.
UCLA pulled even in the fifth, when Martin punched a sharp single through the left side to bring home Dean West from third and tie the game at 1-1.
Minnesota briefly regained the lead in the sixth on a two-run homer from Ty Allen, but the Bruins answered immediately in the bottom half.
UCLA erupted for four runs on four hits in the home half of the inning to take control. Brennan ignited the rally by drilling a solo shot off the hitting facility in right. Gudoy followed with a walk, and Cholowsky was hit by a pitch to put two aboard. With two outs, Levu ripped a double down the right-field line, scoring Gudoy and allowing Cholowsky to race home from first. Martin added one more, dropping a bloop single into right to plate Levu and cap the four-run surge.
Minnesota cut the deficit to one in the eighth on a solo homer from Weber Neels, but UCLA immediately answered again. West worked a walk, and Cholowsky singled him to third. Moments later, Levu grounded into a double play that brought West home, restoring a two-run cushion heading into the ninth.
Hawk finished off his four-out save with a perfect ninth, securing his second save in as many days.
The Bruins return to Jackie Robinson Stadium tomorrow at 12 p.m. PT for the series finale. Live coverage will be available on B1G+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Moss, Wylan (4-0)
L: Hemmesch, Tyler (1-2)
S: Hawk, Easton (8)
Batting:
HR: Neels, Weber 1 ; Allen, Ty 1
RBI: Neels, Weber 2 ; Allen, Ty 2
SH: Mosh, Jack 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Spanier, Jack 1 ; Neels, Weber 1 ; Sutherland, Charlie 1 ; Allen, Ty 1
HBP: Hamilton, Davis 1
Batting:
2B: Levu, Mulivai 1
HR: Brennan, Payton 1
RBI: Levu, Mulivai 2 ; Martin, Roman 2 ; Brennan, Payton 1
SH: Aguayo, Aiden 1
Base Running:
RUNS: West, Dean 2 ; Cholowsky, Roch 1 ; Levu, Mulivai 1 ; Brennan, Payton 1 ; Gudoy, Trey 1
SB: Brennan, Payton 1
HBP: Cholowsky, Roch 2
PO: West, Dean 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball1B
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballHighlights - UCLA Baseball vs. Minnesota (April 18, 2026)
Saturday, April 18
Highlights - UCLA Baseball vs. Minnesota (April 17, 2026)
Friday, April 17
Highlights - UCLA Baseball vs. Rutgers (April 12, 2026)
Sunday, April 12
Highlights - UCLA Baseball vs. Rutgers (April 11, 2026)
Saturday, April 11