The Bruins entered the first day of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship Regional as the top seed, but their campaign got off to a surprising end when they fell 3-2 to Saint Mary's at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
A quiet opening three innings saw only a single scoring chance for UCLA — a third‑inning double by Jacob Johnson that moved him into scoring position. Johnson answered his own knock in the fourth, launching a two‑out solo homer off starter Wylan Moss to give the Bruins a 1‑0 lead.
The Bruins extended their advantage when Roman Martin launched a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth, capping a two‑run burst. Saint Mary's starter John Damozonio, who had been dominant through seven innings, surrendered only those two earned runs on five hits while striking out seven and walking two.
Moss was pulled after the fifth, and a succession of relievers kept the pressure on, but the Gaels clawed back, tying the game in the fifth on a leadoff walk by Tanner Griffith that forced Moss from the mound.
The contest remained deadlocked until the top of the ninth, when Jacob Johnson stepped into the plate with one out and sent a pitch from Easton Hawk to right field for a solo home run that proved to be the game‑winner.
What’s Next for the Bruins?
UCLA now awaits the winner of Friday’s showdown between Virginia Tech and Cal Poly, a matchup that will determine their Saturday elimination opponent. The game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. PT, though television details have yet to be confirmed.
Despite the narrow defeat, the Bruins demonstrated resilience, with multiple players delivering key hits and a pitching staff that kept the game close deep into the night.