The UCLA baseball team, ranked No. 1, secured a narrow 5-4 victory against Pepperdine on March 17 at Jackie Robinson Stadium in Los Angeles. The Bruins maintained their one-run lead in the ninth inning thanks to a key defensive play by Dean West and a decisive strikeout by Cal Randall.
This win extends UCLA’s winning streak to twelve games, bringing their season record to 18-2 overall and 6-0 in Big Ten play. The game was highlighted by West throwing out the potential tying run at home plate in the top of the ninth inning, followed by Randall striking out the final batter for the save.
Offensively, Payton Brennan led the Bruins with three hits in four at-bats, including a go-ahead solo home run in the fifth inning—his third of the season. Jarrod Hocking contributed two hits and made a notable diving catch during his first start in right field this year. Mulivai Levu added his sixth home run of the season as part of a two-hit night, while Phoenix Call drove in two runs with a single in the second inning.
Pepperdine took an early lead with two runs in the first inning, but UCLA responded quickly. Levu’s two-run homer tied the game before Call’s single put UCLA ahead. The Waves managed to tie it again later, but Brennan restored UCLA’s lead with another home run.
In the final innings, both teams had opportunities to score. UCLA loaded the bases in the eighth but could not add insurance runs. In the ninth, after Pepperdine threatened with runners on base due to a bloop single and an error, West’s throw from left field cut down what would have been the tying run at home plate. Randall then closed out the game with a strikeout.
Looking ahead, UCLA will begin a three-game Big Ten series against Maryland starting Friday, March 20 at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Live coverage will be available on B1G+.
