No. 1 UCLA Gears Up for First-Ever Trip to Michigan State

Friday, May 1

East Lansing, MI

3:05 PM (PT)

UCLA

Michigan State

Mulivai Levu

Photo by: Ross Turteltaub

No. 1 UCLA Gears Up for First-Ever Trip to Michigan State

April 30, 2026 | Baseball

UCLA's Game Notes (PDF)Information Guide Media Center Watch (B1G+)Live Stats

LOS ANGELES - The No.1-ranked UCLA baseball team will embark on its first-ever trip to Michigan State for a three-game Big Ten Conference series beginning on Friday, May 1 at 3:05 p.m. PT. The second game of the series will start at 12:35 p.m. PT on Saturday, and Sunday's series finale is set for a 9:05 a.m. PT first pitch. Fans can also follow along with live stats (StatBroadcast) and X/Twitter updates (@UCLABaseball).

SERIES INFORMATION
Venue: Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium
First Pitch: 3:05 PM / 12:35 PM / 9:05 AM PT
Television: B1G+
Live Stats: UCLA.statbroadcast.com

THE RUNDOWN

UCLA entered the season as the preseason No. 1 ranked team (D1Baseball.com and Baseball America)
UCLA is the consensus No. 1 team in the country as it is ranked No. 1 by all prominent outlets (D1B, BA, USAT, PG, NCBWA)
UCLA is the fastest team in program history to 40 wins, reaching it in only 44 games
UCLA became the first Division I team to reach 40 wins in its Tuesday night victory at UC Santa Barbara
UCLA's 27-game winning streak from Feb. 27 to Apr. 12 was the longest in program history
The Bruins' 21-0 start to Big Ten play marks their best league start in program history
UCLA out-scored its opponents 255-85 during the 27-game winning streak
Logan Reddemann matched the program record with 18 strikeouts on April 10 vs. Rutgers
Roch Cholowsky was named a Brooks Wallace Award Semifinalist
Cholowsky has homered five times in the last five games, including four over the last three contests
Logan Reddemann and Wylan Moss were named to the Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List
The UCLA pitching staff combined for 30 strikeouts on April 10 vs. Rutgers, which is one shy of the all-time NCAA record
Roman Martin leads the Bruins with 20 multi-hit games this season
Easton Hawk has held his opponents scoreless through his last 16 appearances, allowing just two hits over that span
Cal Randall has fired 10 straight scoreless outings, allowing just three hits with 20 strikeouts and six walks
The Bruins went undefeated (18-0) in the month of March
UCLA has earned eight wins via the run-rule this season, including six during the 27-game win streak
UCLA swept Ohio State, Michigan, Maryland, Iowa, USC, Rutgers, and Minnesota for seven straight Big Ten sweeps
UCLA ranks second nationally in team ERA (3.23)
The Bruins are ranked fourth in the nation for hit-by-pitches with 106 on the season
Roch Cholowsky is the Big Ten leader in runs scored with 59 on the year
UCLA is ranked 13th in the nation for on-base percentage with a mark of .428
UCLA scored 40 runs in the OSU sweep, its most in any series since 2023 and its most in a conference series since 2022
Will Gasparino was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series
Martin leads the team in hitting, posting a .347 average with seven home runs and43 RBIs
Wylan Moss was recently named to the National Pitcher of the Year Watch List by the College Baseball Foundation
The Bruins have nine victories over ranked opponents
UCLA made its sixth appearance at the CWS and fourth under Head Coach John Savage in 2025
UCLA won eight of its 10 conference series to earn a share of the Big Ten Conference regular season title
Roch Cholowsky was named Big Ten Player of the Year, the league's defensive player of the year, and received a First Team nod
UCLA's 48 wins are its most since 2019 and fifth-most in program history
The program has earned 17 winning records in 22 seasons under HC John Savage
UCLA won 13 of its 15 weekend series last season and won every series played at Jackie Robinson Stadium
UCLA went 31-7 at Jackie Robinson Stadium last season
Cholowsky was named Player of the Year and a First Team All-American by four outlets (ABCA/Rawlings, BA, D1B, PG)
Cholowsky also won the Brooks Wallace Award, honoring him as the nation's top shortstop
Cholowsky's 23 home runs was the most by a Bruin since 2000 (Forrest Johnson)
In 2023, the Bruins welcomed the top signing class in the country
The Bruins were picked to finish first in the Big Ten Preseason Poll
Transfer pitcher Logan Reddemann (San Diego) and Will Gasparino (Texas) headline the incoming transfer portal class

WEEKEND RECAP
No. 1 UCLA took the series over Sacramento State behind two dramatic comeback wins before dropping the finale. On Friday, the Bruins erased a ninth-inning deficit and walked off 6-5 on Roman Martin's game-tying single and Roch Cholowsky's dash home on a defensive miscue. UCLA followed with another rally on Saturday, using three solo homers and a two-run eighth to secure a 5-3 victory behind clutch relief from Easton Hawk. Sacramento State salvaged Sunday's finale, 9-6, despite Cholowsky's two-homer performance, as the Bruins were unable to overcome a six-run hole by the sixth inning.

PROJECTED PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday, May 1 - 3:05 p.m. PT
UCLA – So. RHP Wylan Moss (4-0, 2.09 ERA)
MSU – Gr. RHP JD Greeley (0-2, 8.10 ERA)
Saturday, May 2 - 12:35 p.m. PT
UCLA – Sr. RHP Michael Barnett (6-0, 3.38 ERA)
MSU – So. RHP Aidan Donovan (4-2, 3.62 ERA)
Sunday, May 3 - 9:05 a.m. PT
UCLA – Jr. RHP Landon Stump (2-1, 4.02 ERA)
MSU – Gr. RHP Carter Monke (4-4, 5.30 ERA)

ABOUT THE SPARTANS
Michigan State has faced one of the nation's tougher slates, with its March 4 matchup against No. 10 Clemson marking its seventh game against a ranked opponent, sitting at 2-5 in those contests. The Spartans opened the year by taking 2-of-3 at No. 8 Louisville before dropping three straight at No. 3 Texas, and their strength of schedule has kept them near the top of the Big Ten rankings throughout the spring. After spending multiple weeks at No. 1 in the conference's SOS standings, MSU has hovered inside the league's top four, entering the week of April 20 ranked No. 4 in the Big Ten and No. 59 nationally. The conference remains deep around them, with UCLA, Maryland, USC, Nebraska, and Oregon all slotted ahead, and several others, including Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Penn State, Ohio State, and Iowa, also inside the national top 80.

HAWK'S FLYING HIGH
Sophomore right-hander Easton Hawk has been one of UCLA's most reliable and dominant bullpen arms, piecing together an elite season built on consistency, swing-and-miss stuff, and a remarkable run of scoreless outings. Hawk has settled into lockdown form, allowing just six earned runs across 27.1 innings with 34 strikeouts, only 18 hits, and a sparkling 1.98 ERA. His last 16 appearances have been especially impressive: Hawk has thrown 15.2 innings without allowing a single run, giving up just two hits in that entire stretch while striking out 23 and converting seven saves. He's repeatedly delivered in high-leverage moments, stranding runners, closing out tight games, and overpowering hitters with clean, efficient innings. With a season line of 3-1, nine saves, and a microscopic ERA, Hawk has emerged as one of the most dominant late-inning weapons in Division I baseball and a cornerstone of UCLA's nation-leading record.

REMARKABLE RANDALL
Hard-throwing right-hander Cal Randall has emerged as one of UCLA's steadiest and most effective bullpen arms, evolving into a dominant late-inning option for Head Coach John Savage's pitching staff. Across 19.2 innings, he has allowed just nine hits and six earned runs while striking out 39, good for a sharp 2.75 ERA and a spotless 2-0 record with one save. His last 10 appearances have been especially impressive: Randall has thrown 10.2 innings without allowing an earned run, giving up only three hits while striking out 20 and repeatedly navigating high-leverage spots with poise. During this stretch, he has stranded inherited runners, neutralized the heart of opposing orders, and consistently delivered clean, efficient innings. With a fastball that has repeatedly touched triple-digits, improved command, and a month-long scoreless streak, Randall has solidified himself as a key late-game weapon in UCLA's bullpen and a major reason the Bruins continue to close out tight games.

MIDSEASON AWARDS

Golden Spikes Award Watch List: Roch Cholowsky, Will Gasparino, Mulivai Levu, Logan Reddemann
Big Ten Midseason Player of the Year: Roch Cholowsky
Brooks Wallace Award Semifinalist: Roch Cholowsky
National Pitcher of the Year Semifinalist: Logan Reddemann and Wylan Moss
NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List: Easton Hawk and Wylan Moss
Perfect Game All-Americans: Roch Cholowsky, Will Gasparino, Wylan Moss (1st Team), Mulivai Levu (3rd Team)
Baseball America Player of the Year Watch List: Roch Cholowsky and Will Gasparino
Baseball America Pitcher of the Year Watch List: Logan Reddemann
Buster Posey Award National Catcher of the Year Watch List: Cashel Dugger

BRINGING THE HEAT
UCLA rode a historic overpowering pitching performance to a 4-1, 14-inning win at Rutgers, a result that underscored why the Bruins lead the Big Ten with a 3.07 team ERA. Logan Reddemann delivered one of the most dominant outings in program history, matching the school record with 18 strikeouts over eight innings while allowing just two hits and a single run, including fanning 11 of the final 12 batters he faced. Reddemann also produced 34 whiffs in the contest, which is the most in a Division I game this season. His effort anchored a staff that piled up 30 strikeouts, one shy of the NCAA single-game record, and set the tone for a night where UCLA's arms once again proved to be the backbone of the nation's top-ranked team.

SEEING REDD
Logan Reddemann was named Golden Spikes Player of the Week, College Baseball Pitcher of the Week, and Big Ten Pitcher of the Week following his dominant outing on April 10 at Rutgers. Reddemann matched the UCLA program record with 18 strikeouts over 8.0 innings, anchoring a Bruins pitching staff that piled up 30 Ks, just one shy of the NCAA all-time single-game record, in a 4-1, 14-inning series-opening win over Rutgers. The right-hander allowed just two hits and one run, punctuating his night by fanning 11 of the final 12 batters he faced. His 18 punchouts tied Rob Henkel's mark set against Washington in 2000. Before this game, the most innings Reddemann pitched was 6.1 against Iowa on March 27.

RETURNING PRODUCTION
In an era of college baseball defined by heavy transfer-portal movement, UCLA has taken a different path by retaining its core talent and reaping the rewards. No program in Division I returns more production for 2026, with the Bruins bringing back an impressive 83 percent of their overall output. That includes 85 percent of last season's plate appearances and 78 percent of the innings pitched, giving UCLA one of the most stable and experienced rosters in the country.