Tuesday, April 22
Irvine, CA
6:00 PM (PT)
UCLA
3
at
5
No. 12 UC Irvine
Ryan Rissas
Photo by: Luke Bourgeois
No. 15 UCLA Drops Midweek Contest to No. 12 UC Irvine, 5-3
April 22, 2025 | Baseball
IRVINE, Calif. - The No. 15-ranked UCLA baseball team dropped a midweek contest to No. 12 UC Irvine, 5-3, on Tuesday night at Cicerone Field at Anteater Ballpark.
UCLA (29-11, 13-5 Big Ten) was unable to deliver the timely hit in its fourth defeat in the last five contests. The UC Irvine (29-9, 16-2 Big West) pitching staff silenced the Bruins' bats in seven of the nine innings.
The game was defined by the Anteaters' five-run first inning, featuring a pair of two-run home runs from Colin Yeaman and Chase Call.
UCLA made a late push in the top of the ninth, nearly staging a dramatic comeback. Aidan Espinoza delivered a crucial two-RBI single with the bases loaded, cutting the deficit to two runs. With the tying run on first and the go-ahead run at the plate, the Bruins had the opportunity to extend the game. However, they were able find the decisive swing in their final opportunity, falling just short.
UCLA's bullpen was excellent, shutting out the Anteaters for seven straight frames. Josh Alger and CJ Bott each pitched two scoreless innings, striking out three batters apiece.
Ryan Rissas, Cal Randall, and August Souza recorded the last nine outs, allowing just one hit over the last three frames.
Dean West continued his hot streak, enjoying his second straight three-hit game. Roch Cholowsky banged out two hits and Jarrod Hocking launched his fourth homer of the campaign and his second in the last three games.
UC Irvine stormed into the lead with a five-run first inning, using a pair of two-run home runs from Yeaman and Call and a two-out RBI base hit from Zach Fjelstad.
The Bruins immediately replied in the top of the second when Hocking belted a solo shot over the left-center field wall to cut the lead to four.
The two teams went scoreless for the next six frames as the pitching staffs stiffened down the stretch.
Down to its last three outs, UCLA began to rally when Roman Martin drew a free pass and AJ Salgado reached on an infield single. An error by the UCI first baseman prolonged the inning, loading the bases for Espinoza who was pinch hitting in the nine hole. Espinoza ripped a base hit through the right side of the single to score a pair of Bruins while placing the tying run at first base and go-ahead run at the plate.
However, UCLA saw its comeback attempt halted by a strikeout for the final out of the ballgame and the Anteaters escaped with the 5-3 win.
The Bruins return to Jackie Robinson Stadium on Friday, April 25 at 6 p.m. PT to begin a Big Ten series against Penn State. The games will be available to watch on B1G+.
UCLA (29-11, 13-5 Big Ten) was unable to deliver the timely hit in its fourth defeat in the last five contests. The UC Irvine (29-9, 16-2 Big West) pitching staff silenced the Bruins' bats in seven of the nine innings.
The game was defined by the Anteaters' five-run first inning, featuring a pair of two-run home runs from Colin Yeaman and Chase Call.
UCLA made a late push in the top of the ninth, nearly staging a dramatic comeback. Aidan Espinoza delivered a crucial two-RBI single with the bases loaded, cutting the deficit to two runs. With the tying run on first and the go-ahead run at the plate, the Bruins had the opportunity to extend the game. However, they were able find the decisive swing in their final opportunity, falling just short.
UCLA's bullpen was excellent, shutting out the Anteaters for seven straight frames. Josh Alger and CJ Bott each pitched two scoreless innings, striking out three batters apiece.
Ryan Rissas, Cal Randall, and August Souza recorded the last nine outs, allowing just one hit over the last three frames.
Dean West continued his hot streak, enjoying his second straight three-hit game. Roch Cholowsky banged out two hits and Jarrod Hocking launched his fourth homer of the campaign and his second in the last three games.
UC Irvine stormed into the lead with a five-run first inning, using a pair of two-run home runs from Yeaman and Call and a two-out RBI base hit from Zach Fjelstad.
The Bruins immediately replied in the top of the second when Hocking belted a solo shot over the left-center field wall to cut the lead to four.
The two teams went scoreless for the next six frames as the pitching staffs stiffened down the stretch.
Down to its last three outs, UCLA began to rally when Roman Martin drew a free pass and AJ Salgado reached on an infield single. An error by the UCI first baseman prolonged the inning, loading the bases for Espinoza who was pinch hitting in the nine hole. Espinoza ripped a base hit through the right side of the single to score a pair of Bruins while placing the tying run at first base and go-ahead run at the plate.
However, UCLA saw its comeback attempt halted by a strikeout for the final out of the ballgame and the Anteaters escaped with the 5-3 win.
The Bruins return to Jackie Robinson Stadium on Friday, April 25 at 6 p.m. PT to begin a Big Ten series against Penn State. The games will be available to watch on B1G+.