GAME RECAP: Sniffen’s Walk-Off Caps Gaels’ Epic Comeback, Take Down #1 UCLA in 10 Innings

WESTWOOD, CA — You couldn’t have scripted a better ending if you tried.

Down 5-2 in the fifth and staring at the buzzsaw that is the nation’s top-ranked Bruins at Jackie Robinson Stadium, Saint Mary’s just kept grinding. They clawed back one run at a time, tied it in the ninth, and then delivered the knockout punch in the 10th when Makoa Sniffen ripped a single through the left side to plate Cody Kashimoto for a 6-5 walk-off victory over UCLA on Sunday afternoon.

The Gaels are officially playing spoiler in the Los Angeles Regional. They took down the Bruins for the second time in the tournament, and now they’ll turn around and face Cal Poly in a rematch at 6 p.m. tonight.

Early on, it looked like UCLA was going to roll. The Bruins jumped on Sam Kretsch for three runs in the first two innings. Dean West drove in a pair, including a massive solo homer in the fifth that made it 5-3. Roman Martin, Mulivai Levu, and Will Gasparino all chipped in with timely knocks, and starter Angel Cervantes was dealing early — seven strikeouts through five-plus innings.

But Saint Mary’s refused to fold.

Tanner Griffith led off the second with an RBI single. Ian Armstrong crushed a solo shot in the third to make it 3-2. Jacob Johnson answered UCLA’s fifth-inning outburst with a solo bomb of his own. Diego Castellanos knocked in Kashimoto in the sixth to cut the deficit to one. Every time the Bruins tried to slam the door, the Gaels found another hit. Fifteen of them in total.

The bullpen was the real hero, though. After Kretsch exited following 4⅓ innings and five runs allowed, Cam Staton came in and was absolutely filthy. The right-hander tossed 4⅔ shutout innings, scattering just two hits while striking out five and keeping the Gaels within striking distance. David Roberts threw a perfect 10th to set up the drama.

Then in the ninth, Griffith reached and Armstrong delivered again — a clutch single through the right side to knot it at 5-5.

Extra innings.

Kashimoto led off the 10th with a single off Easton Hawk (who took the loss). Castellanos walked, putting runners on first and second with nobody out. Sniffen stepped in and didn’t miss his pitch, lining it into left field. Kashimoto came flying around third, and the Gaels celebrated.

Griffith finished 3-for-6 with an RBI. Armstrong went 3-for-5 with the homer and two ribbies. Johnson, Castellanos, and Kashimoto all had two hits apiece. Just a total team effort when it mattered most.

For UCLA, it’s a tough one. They out-hit Saint Mary’s early and had the lead most of the day, but the bullpen couldn’t close it out and the offense went quiet after the fifth. West’s two-RBI day and a strong start from Cervantes weren’t enough.

Saint Mary’s, though? They’re rolling. Two wins on the weekend to take down the top dog in the country and now a shot at Cal Poly again tonight.