Friday, April 25
Los Angeles, CA
6:00 PM (PT)
UCLA
vs
Penn State
Mulivai Levu
Photo by: Ross Turteltaub
No. 15 UCLA Hosts Penn State for Three-Game Set
April 24, 2025 | Baseball
LOS ANGELES - The No. 15-ranked UCLA baseball team will host Penn State for an important Big Ten Conference series beginning on Friday, April 25 at 6 p.m. PT, continuing on Saturday, April 26, 2 p.m. PT, and concluding on Sunday, April 27 at 1 p.m. PT. The games will be available for viewing on B1G+, with Nick Koop and Sid Iyer on the call. Fans can also follow along with live stats (StatBroadcast) and X/Twitter updates (@UCLABaseball).
SERIES INFORMATION
Venue: Jackie Robinson Stadium
Stream: B1G+
Talent: Nick Koop (play-by-play), Sid Iyer (analyst)
Live Stats: ucla.statbroadcast.com
THE RUNDOWN
MIDWEEK RECAP
UCLA was unable to deliver the timely hit in its fourth defeat in the last five contests. The UC Irvine 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.
PROJECTED PITCHING MATCHUPS
UCLA – RS Jr. LHP Ian May (6-2, 3.95 ERA)
PSU – Jr. LHP Ryan DeSanto (7-1, 3.28 ERA)
Saturday, April 26 - 2 p.m. PT
UCLA – Jr. RHP Michael Barnett (7-0, 4.57 ERA)
PSU – So. RHP Mason Horwat (4-3, 7.34 ERA)
Sunday, April 27 - 1 p.m. PT
UCLA – So. RHP Landon Stump (3-0, 5.04 ERA)
PSU – Jr. LHP Logan Olson (0-2, 7.54 ERA)
ABOUT THE NITTANY LIONS
Penn State comes into the weekend with an overall record of 25-14 and sit in sixth place in the Big Ten at 12-9. The Nittany Lions boast an impressive record away from home at 13-4. In its most recent conference series, Penn State won two of three games at home against Purdue. The Nittany Lions are winners of three of their last four games after defeating No. 17 West Virginia in their midweek competition.
CHOLOWSKY NAMED TO GOLDEN SPIKES AWARD MIDSEASON WATCH LIST
Sophomore Roch Cholowsky was named to the USA Baseball Midseason Golden Spikes Watch List. Cholowsky, a sophomore from Chandler, Ariz., has been outstanding for UCLA as it reaches the halfway point in the season. The shortstop is hitting a team-best .363 with 13 home runs and 45 RBIs during his excellent campaign. Cholowsky boasts team-bests in on-base percentage (.510) and slugging (.740) to post an OPS of 1.250. The 2024 Freshman All-American has produced in the crucial moments for the Bruins with five go-ahead home runs on the season. He launched a grand slam to complete UCLA's comeback against Michigan State on Feb. 23 in what was just the beginning of his heroics at the plate in 2025.
In what was arguably UCLA's most exhilarating win of the season, Cholowsky hit a three-run home run in the top of the ninth inning, giving the Bruins the lead when they were down to their final out against Maryland on March 7. This dramatic moment helped secured UCLA's first-ever victory in the Big Ten Conference.
CARDIAC BRUINS
UCLA has scored first just 14 times in its 40 games this season, racking up a total of 15 come-from-behind victories. Remarkably, the Bruins have pulled off three comebacks after trailing by five or more runs. Notably, UCLA is undefeated when scoring first, posting a perfect 14-0 record.
ROCH AND THE ADVANCED STATISTICS
Roch Cholowsky has undoubtedly been one of the nation's most valuable players, and the advanced statistics prove it. According to data compiled by 643 charts, Cholowsky leads the nation in wins-above-replacement (WAR) with a mark of 4.28. UCLA's shortstop has particularly stood out defensively with a defensive-runs-saved mark of 12.24 and defensive WAR of 0.92. Cholowsky ranks third in the nation for both metrics.
DAZZLING DOUBLE PLAYS
The UCLA defense has turned 46 double plays this season which is the top mark in the country. The Bruins also lead the country in double plays-per-game, averaging 1.15 per contest. Roch Cholowsky and Phoenix Call have combined to turn 30 of the 46 twin killings. It is worth noting that all 46 double play turns have taken place in the infield as first baseman Mulivai Levu has been involved in all of them. The Bruins have been excellent defensively in 2025, posting a fielding percentage of .979 which ranks 18th nationally.
CLOSING IN ON HISTORY
Head Coach John Savage recently reached a significant milestone, eclipsing the 700-win mark at UCLA with a Friday night win over San Diego. With 705 wins at UCLA, he ranks second all-time, trailing only Gary Adams (1975-2004) who finished his career with 984 wins. Savage began his head coaching career at UC Irvine, where he notched 88 wins in his first three seasons, bringing his career total to 793. His winning percentage of .598 with the Bruins is the highest among UCLA coaches with over 100 games coached.
QUITE THE INTRODUCTION
Sophomore Grant Gray received his first career start in UCLA's midweek matchup with LMU on Tuesday night, and he made the most of it, launching a two-run home run in what was his first career hit. Gray is a two-way athlete, as he also competes as a wide out for the UCLA football team.
BRUINS PICKED TO FINISH FOURTH IN BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL
Big Ten Preseason Poll
1. Oregon
2. Nebraska
3. Indiana
4. UCLA
5. Michigan
6. USC
FRIENDLY CONFINES
UCLA clinched its 10th consecutive season with a winning record at Jackie Robinson Stadium. The Bruins have had a losing record at home just twice over the last 21 seasons, last occurring in 2014 (11-20).
MIDWEEK NOTES
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
UCLA added 11 newcomers ahead of the 2025 season, including eight freshmen and three transfers. Coach Savage has bolstered his pitching staff with three pitchers joining via the transfer portal. Left-hander Ian May (California) will look to occupy a spot in the starting rotation after logging 20 starts and 90.0 total innings for the Golden Bears. Fellow southpaw Ryan Rissas (UC San Diego) helped lead the Tritons to their first-ever Big West title in 2023. August Souza (Santa Clara) brings 43 appearances worth of experience after spending a total of five seasons (including 2020 Covid-shortened season) at Santa Clara.
SERIES INFORMATION
Venue: Jackie Robinson Stadium
Stream: B1G+
Talent: Nick Koop (play-by-play), Sid Iyer (analyst)
Live Stats: ucla.statbroadcast.com
THE RUNDOWN
- UCLA was ranked at No. 15 in the most recent D1Baseball poll
- The Bruins are also ranked in the Baseball America poll at No. 18
- UCLA won 10 consecutive weekend series dating back to the 2024 season until its series defeat at No. 16 Oregon
- UCLA has won five of its six conference series and currently sits in second place in the Big Ten standings
- The program has clinched another winning record, making it 16 winning records in 21 seasons under HC John Savage
- UCLA is 21-6 at Jackie Robinson Stadium this season
- UCLA's defense leads the country in double plays (46) and double plays-per-game (1.15)
- Roch Cholowsky was recently named to the Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List
- According to data compiled by 643 charts, Cholowsky leads the nation in wins-above-replacement (WAR) at 4.28
- Cholowsky leads the team in hitting at .367, mashing 13 home runs, collecting 45 RBI, and slugging .733
- Cholowsky boasts an OPS of 1.244 which ranks second in the Big Ten
- Dean West is hitting a team-best .460 with 18 runs scored and 10 walks in the month of April
- Mulivai Levu ranks 34th in the nation and third in the Big Ten with 51 RBIs
- August Souza has allowed just two earned runs over his last 11 relief appearances
- At 23-5, UCLA achieved its best 28-game start to a season since 2010
- UCLA earned its first series win over Washington since 2019
- UCLA scored 37 runs in the sweep over Purdue, matching its tally from the three-game set against Cal Poly (Feb. 14-16)
- UCLA secured its first-ever sweep in the Big Ten era by winning three straight games over Nebraska
- Cholowsky was hit by a pitch three times on Tuesday, a first for UCLA in over a decade
- Against Michigan, UCLA scored 20 or more runs in a game for the first time since its 23-0 win over Omaha (2/18/23)
- Cholowsky's dramatic three-run homer gave UCLA the lead in the ninth inning on Friday night at Maryland
- UCLA drew 15 walks against BYU, its most in a game since Feb. 18, 2024
- UCLA enters its inaugural season in the Big Ten in 2025
- In 2023, the Bruins welcomed the top signing class in the country
- Roch Cholowsky returns for his sophomore season after receiving Freshman All-American acclaim (Perfect Game)
- Duce Gourson, Cody Schrier, and Luke Jewett were selected in the 2024 MLB Draft
- The Bruins were picked to finish fourth in the Big Ten Preseason Poll
- Roch Cholowsky, Cody Delvecchio, and Dean West were named Big Ten Players to Watch
- UCLA is coming off a 19-33 campaign, snapping a streak of seven consecutive winning seasons
- Three transfer pitchers (Ian May - Cal, Ryan Rissas - UCSD, August Souza - Santa Clara) bolster UCLA's pitching staff
MIDWEEK RECAP
UCLA was unable to deliver the timely hit in its fourth defeat in the last five contests. The UC Irvine 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.
PROJECTED PITCHING MATCHUPS
UCLA – RS Jr. LHP Ian May (6-2, 3.95 ERA)
PSU – Jr. LHP Ryan DeSanto (7-1, 3.28 ERA)
Saturday, April 26 - 2 p.m. PT
UCLA – Jr. RHP Michael Barnett (7-0, 4.57 ERA)
PSU – So. RHP Mason Horwat (4-3, 7.34 ERA)
Sunday, April 27 - 1 p.m. PT
UCLA – So. RHP Landon Stump (3-0, 5.04 ERA)
PSU – Jr. LHP Logan Olson (0-2, 7.54 ERA)
ABOUT THE NITTANY LIONS
Penn State comes into the weekend with an overall record of 25-14 and sit in sixth place in the Big Ten at 12-9. The Nittany Lions boast an impressive record away from home at 13-4. In its most recent conference series, Penn State won two of three games at home against Purdue. The Nittany Lions are winners of three of their last four games after defeating No. 17 West Virginia in their midweek competition.
CHOLOWSKY NAMED TO GOLDEN SPIKES AWARD MIDSEASON WATCH LIST
Sophomore Roch Cholowsky was named to the USA Baseball Midseason Golden Spikes Watch List. Cholowsky, a sophomore from Chandler, Ariz., has been outstanding for UCLA as it reaches the halfway point in the season. The shortstop is hitting a team-best .363 with 13 home runs and 45 RBIs during his excellent campaign. Cholowsky boasts team-bests in on-base percentage (.510) and slugging (.740) to post an OPS of 1.250. The 2024 Freshman All-American has produced in the crucial moments for the Bruins with five go-ahead home runs on the season. He launched a grand slam to complete UCLA's comeback against Michigan State on Feb. 23 in what was just the beginning of his heroics at the plate in 2025.
In what was arguably UCLA's most exhilarating win of the season, Cholowsky hit a three-run home run in the top of the ninth inning, giving the Bruins the lead when they were down to their final out against Maryland on March 7. This dramatic moment helped secured UCLA's first-ever victory in the Big Ten Conference.
CARDIAC BRUINS
UCLA has scored first just 14 times in its 40 games this season, racking up a total of 15 come-from-behind victories. Remarkably, the Bruins have pulled off three comebacks after trailing by five or more runs. Notably, UCLA is undefeated when scoring first, posting a perfect 14-0 record.
ROCH AND THE ADVANCED STATISTICS
Roch Cholowsky has undoubtedly been one of the nation's most valuable players, and the advanced statistics prove it. According to data compiled by 643 charts, Cholowsky leads the nation in wins-above-replacement (WAR) with a mark of 4.28. UCLA's shortstop has particularly stood out defensively with a defensive-runs-saved mark of 12.24 and defensive WAR of 0.92. Cholowsky ranks third in the nation for both metrics.
DAZZLING DOUBLE PLAYS
The UCLA defense has turned 46 double plays this season which is the top mark in the country. The Bruins also lead the country in double plays-per-game, averaging 1.15 per contest. Roch Cholowsky and Phoenix Call have combined to turn 30 of the 46 twin killings. It is worth noting that all 46 double play turns have taken place in the infield as first baseman Mulivai Levu has been involved in all of them. The Bruins have been excellent defensively in 2025, posting a fielding percentage of .979 which ranks 18th nationally.
CLOSING IN ON HISTORY
Head Coach John Savage recently reached a significant milestone, eclipsing the 700-win mark at UCLA with a Friday night win over San Diego. With 705 wins at UCLA, he ranks second all-time, trailing only Gary Adams (1975-2004) who finished his career with 984 wins. Savage began his head coaching career at UC Irvine, where he notched 88 wins in his first three seasons, bringing his career total to 793. His winning percentage of .598 with the Bruins is the highest among UCLA coaches with over 100 games coached.
QUITE THE INTRODUCTION
Sophomore Grant Gray received his first career start in UCLA's midweek matchup with LMU on Tuesday night, and he made the most of it, launching a two-run home run in what was his first career hit. Gray is a two-way athlete, as he also competes as a wide out for the UCLA football team.
BRUINS PICKED TO FINISH FOURTH IN BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL
Big Ten Preseason Poll
1. Oregon
2. Nebraska
3. Indiana
4. UCLA
5. Michigan
6. USC
FRIENDLY CONFINES
UCLA clinched its 10th consecutive season with a winning record at Jackie Robinson Stadium. The Bruins have had a losing record at home just twice over the last 21 seasons, last occurring in 2014 (11-20).
MIDWEEK NOTES
- UCLA is 45-20 in midweek contests since the start of 2019
- The Bruins are 7-3 in midweek games this season
- Payton Brennan is slashing .471/.550/.706 with a home run during midweek competition
- Mulivai Levu has 14 RBIs in the 10 midweek games, slashing .333/.378/.538 with a pair of home runs
- UCLA has out-scored its opponents 94-48 during midweek games in 2025
- The Bruins went undefeated in midweeks in 2019 (11-0) and 2021 (8-0)
- UCLA won seven straight midweeks from Mar. 1 to Apr. 19, 2022
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
UCLA added 11 newcomers ahead of the 2025 season, including eight freshmen and three transfers. Coach Savage has bolstered his pitching staff with three pitchers joining via the transfer portal. Left-hander Ian May (California) will look to occupy a spot in the starting rotation after logging 20 starts and 90.0 total innings for the Golden Bears. Fellow southpaw Ryan Rissas (UC San Diego) helped lead the Tritons to their first-ever Big West title in 2023. August Souza (Santa Clara) brings 43 appearances worth of experience after spending a total of five seasons (including 2020 Covid-shortened season) at Santa Clara.