GAME RECAP: No. 1 UCLA Powers Past Sacramento State 5-3, Takes Series Victory, Eyes Sweep Tomorrow in Westwood

WESTWOOD, CA – The top-ranked UCLA Bruins continued their dominant 2026 season Saturday afternoon, using the long ball and timely late-inning magic to knock off Sacramento State 5-3 and take the non-conference series at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

With the victory, UCLA improved to 39-3 overall while Sacramento State fell to 19-25. The Bruins have now won the first two games of the three-game set after a wild 6-5 walk-off thriller on Friday night.

Sacramento State jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first when third baseman Jakob Poturnak launched a two-run homer to left field off UCLA starter Michael Barnett. But the Bruins’ potent lineup answered right back, one run at a time, and then exploded late.

Roch Cholowsky got UCLA on the board in the third with a solo shot to tie things at 2-2. Mulivai Levu followed with another solo homer in the fifth to give the Bruins their first lead at 3-2. Will Gasparino kept the home-run party going in the sixth with a solo blast of his own, pushing the advantage to 4-2? Wait, actually 3-2 after Levu, then Gasparino made it 4-2? No—per box score flow: Cholowsky (3rd), Levu (5th), Gasparino (6th) for the 3-2 edge before Sacramento State answered.

The Hornets tied it at 3-3 in the seventh on a sacrifice fly, but that was all the offense they could muster against UCLA’s bullpen.

The Bruins put the game away in the bottom of the eighth. Cashel Dugger reached on a wild pitch that also advanced Payton Brennan to third. Dean West then delivered the go-ahead RBI single to right, scoring Brennan and making it 4-3. Another wild pitch allowed Dugger to score the insurance run, giving UCLA a 5-3 cushion it would not relinquish.

On the mound, Michael Barnett threw five solid innings, allowing three hits and two earned runs while striking out two. Zach Strickland and Cal Randall bridged the gap before Easton Hawk came on to close it out. Hawk (3-1) earned the win with 1.2 scoreless innings of relief, striking out three and not allowing a baserunner.

UCLA finished with eight hits and three home runs. Cholowsky went 2-for-5 with a homer and RBI, while Levu and Gasparino each added solo shots. Dean West chipped in the clutch RBI single in the eighth. Sacramento State managed just five hits on the day.

The Bruins head into Sunday’s series finale looking to complete the sweep and keep rolling as the calendar turns toward Big Ten play. With the No. 1 ranking and a 39-3 record, UCLA continues to show why they’re the team to beat in college baseball this spring.