UCLA entered the NCAA baseball regionals as the No. 1 overall seed, but the Bruins' campaign unraveled after two consecutive defeats to Saint Mary's.
The Gaels sealed the second game with a dramatic walk‑off single in the tenth inning, as Makoa Sniffen drove in the winning run.
Jacob Johnson had put UCLA ahead earlier with a solo homer in the top of the ninth, but the lead slipped away.
A Shockwave Across the Bracket
The loss marks the second straight year that a top‑seeded team has been eliminated before the regional final, a trend that has shaken expectations across the bracket.
Saint Mary's now faces Cal Poly in a double‑elimination showdown, meaning the Gaels must win twice to stay alive.
The early exit also reflects a broader slump for the Big Ten in baseball, a conference that has struggled to translate preseason promise into postseason success.