GAME RECAP: #1 UCLA Stages Thrilling Comeback, Edges #12 USC 9-8 to Take Battle of LA Series Victory, Eye Sweep on the Trojans Tomorrow

WESTWOOD, CA- In a classic crosstown war that lived up to every bit of the hype, the top-ranked UCLA Bruins refused to go quietly. Trailing by three runs midway through the contest, #1 UCLA (28-2, 14-0 Big Ten) erupted for a four-run sixth inning and scratched across the go-ahead run in a wild eighth to defeat #12 USC (27-5, 10-4 Big Ten) 9-8 on Saturday afternoon. The victory gives the Bruins a commanding 2-0 lead in the Battle of LA series and sets up a chance for the sweep on Sunday.

This one had everything you want in a rivalry showdown at Jackie Robinson Stadium: early fireworks, momentum swings, clutch hitting from the heart of the order, and a bullpen that slammed the door when it mattered most.

USC jumped on UCLA starter Michael Barnett right away. Adrian Lopez drove in a run with a single in the first to make it 1-0. The Bruins answered in the second, plating three runs on a sacrifice fly from Cashel Dugger and a two-run double by Dominic Cadiz to grab a 3-1 lead.

But the Trojans roared back in the third with four runs — capped by RBI singles from Augie Lopez, Kevin Takeuchi, and Isaac Cadena — to take a 5-4 advantage. Payton Brennan answered with a solo homer in the bottom of the third to cut it to 5-4, but USC added two more in the fifth to stretch the lead to 7-4.

In the bottom of the sixth, UCLA sent eight batters to the plate and scored four times. Roch Cholowsky drove in one with a groundout, Mulivai Levu ripped an RBI triple, and Brennan delivered the biggest blow of the day — a two-run single that gave the Bruins an 8-7 lead. The Jackie Robinson Stadium crowd — already electric for the sold-out series — erupted as the Bruins took their first lead since the second inning.

The Trojans refused to fold. They tied it at 8-8 in the top of the eighth on an RBI groundout from Andrew Lamb. But UCLA answered right back in the bottom half. Levu reached base, advanced to third, and scored on a wild pitch after Brennan drew a walk. That gave the Bruins a 9-8 edge they would not relinquish.

UCLA’s relief corps delivered when it counted, with Cal Randall earning the win and Easton Hawk (5 saves) locking it down with a perfect ninth to close out the victory.

The Bruins will go for the series sweep — and their first clean sweep of USC in the Big Ten era — on Sunday, April 5 at 4:00 p.m. PT. Game 3 will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network. First pitch from Jackie Robinson Stadium is set for 4 p.m.