The atmosphere at the Big Ten Tournament semifinal was electric as UCLA chased down a 5‑4 lead in the final inning. After a quiet start that saw USC take an early 1‑0 advantage, the Bruins rallied with a two‑run single from Dean West in the seventh to push the lead to 4‑3.
USC’s Grant Govel had been dominant, limiting UCLA to just two runs over 4 2/3 innings, but the Bruins refused to fold. Mulivai Levu, who had already delivered a walk‑off sacrifice fly the night before against Purdue, stepped up with a clutch swing that sent a three‑run homer soaring over the fence, flipping the score to 7‑5 and sealing the victory.
A Ninth‑Inning Miracle
Levu’s heroics were not a one‑off. Manager John Savage praised the player’s composure under pressure, noting that the team had prepared specifically for high‑leverage moments like this. The comeback was also fueled by a collective effort, with Will Gasparino’s line drive and Adrian Lopez’s timely RBI single adding to the offensive onslaught.
The game capped a dominant stretch for UCLA, who had previously swept USC 31‑16 in a three‑game series earlier in April. That earlier sweep set the tone for a season defined by resilience and clutch performances, a narrative that continued to unfold in the tournament.
Looking ahead, the Bruins will meet either Nebraska or Oregon in the championship game. Both potential opponents bring their own storylines, but UCLA’s recent surge, anchored by Levu’s bat and a pitching staff that has learned to grind through tough innings, positions them as a formidable contender.
While stars like Roch Cholowsky, the projected No. 1 MLB draft pick, went 0 for 5 on the day, the depth of the lineup proved decisive. Even as USC’s Adrian Lopez tied the game in the ninth with a run, it was Levu’s swing that ultimately wrote the final chapter of this unforgettable semifinal.