The top-ranked UCLA Bruins continued their dominant season with an impressive 8-4 victory over the LMU Lions on Tuesday at Page Stadium in Los Angeles. This final nonconference matchup of the regular season showcased why the Bruins are the team to beat, as they extended their winning streak to five games and improved their stellar record to 44-4.
Coming off a series sweep against Michigan State, UCLA carried that momentum straight into this game. The pitching staff was the story early on, with seven different hurlers combining to hold the Lions to just five hits while striking out 11 batters. It was a masterclass in mound management that kept LMU off balance all night.
The Bruins wasted no time establishing control, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Junior outfielder Dean West crossed the plate on a wild pitch to get things started. Junior shortstop Roch Cholowsky followed with a sacrifice fly, and junior infielder Roman Martin capped the inning with an RBI single. It was the kind of aggressive, opportunistic offense that has defined UCLA's season.
Sophomore centerfielder Kasen Khansarinia extended the lead to 4-0 in the second inning with a double that scored Martin. The Lions managed to get one back in the bottom half on a wild pitch from freshman right-hander Angel Cervantes, but the Bruins were far from finished.
The third inning was a clinic in manufacturing runs without a single hit. Freshman outfielder Trey Gudoy scored from third after Khansarinia was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Freshman infielder Dominic Cadiz then came home on a fielder's choice, and junior infielder Phoenix Call added another run on a wild pitch. Just like that, UCLA had built a commanding 7-1 lead.
After a quiet fourth inning, the Bruins added their final run in the fifth when Call scored for the second time, this time on a lineout by Khansarinia. But the Lions showed some fight in the bottom half, as senior right-hander Jack O'Connor surrendered a three-run homer that cut the deficit to 8-4.
From there, both defenses locked in. UCLA managed just two more hits over the final four innings, while LMU could only muster one. It was a fitting end to a game that showcased the Bruins' depth, discipline, and championship pedigree—all the qualities that make them the No. 1 team in the country.