UCLA entered the NCAA baseball tournament with a sense of urgency after an opening defeat to Saint Mary’s left them on the brink. The Bruins then faced Virginia Tech, finding themselves down 5-3 as the game entered its final inning.
A Ninth‑Inning Turnaround
A solo home run by Mulivai Levu trimmed the deficit to one, and Roman Martin followed with a homer of his own to tie the contest. Will Gasparino’s single advanced a runner, but Cashel Dugger’s bunt attempt fell short, striking out with two strikes.
Dominic Cadiz’s timely single moved the potential winning run within 90 feet, setting the stage for Phoenix Call’s decisive hit that sealed a 6-5 victory. Shortstop Roch Cholowsky summed up the mood, saying, “Survive and advance,” after the win.
The Bruins now await the loser of the Saint Mary’s versus Cal Poly matchup, which will determine their next opponent in a do‑or‑die game on Sunday.