In a dramatic NCAA Regional elimination game, UCLA trailed Virginia Tech 5-3 entering the bottom of the ninth. The Bruins rallied with a leadoff home run from Mulivai Levu, followed by a solo shot from Roman Martin that tied the contest. Phoenix Call then delivered an RBI single that plated Will Gasparino with the game-winning run, sealing a 6-5 victory and extending UCLA's NCAA-leading total of comeback wins to 30.
A Ninth-Inning Miracle
The comeback was sparked by a clutch performance from the Bruins' lineup, but it also relied on the relief efforts of Zach Strickland, who limited further damage after Virginia Tech had taken a 5-3 lead with an insurance run in the top of the ninth. Earlier in the game, UCLA had built a 3-2 advantage in the seventh before Ethan Gibson's solo home run shifted momentum, and a subsequent solo shot from Ethan Ball in the eighth kept the pressure on.
What’s Next for the Bruins
UCLA now prepares for another elimination contest scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. PT, where they will face the loser of the Cal Poly-St. Mary's matchup. The upcoming opponent will be determined after a Saturday showdown at 6 p.m., but the Bruins enter the game with confidence after a resilient performance that highlighted their depth and poise under pressure.
The victory underscores a season defined by tenacity for UCLA baseball. With a roster dotted by standout performers such as Mulivai Levu, Roman Martin, Will Gasparino, Phoenix Call, Michael Barnett, Ethan Gibson, Zach Strickland, Ethan Ball, Madden Clement, Dean West, Roch Chowlowsky, Cashel Dugger, Jarrod Hocking, Owen Petrich, Preston Crowl, Cal Randall, Trey Gudoy, Aidan Espinoza, Easton Hawk and Hudson Lutterman, the team has turned comeback wins into a hallmark of its identity.