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UCLA baseball finishes with a sweep over Minnesota, remains undefeated in the Big Ten

April 20, 2026

Could Big Ten Play Enhance an Already Strong UCLA Baseball Team?

Bruins coach Jon Savage believes there’s potential for the top-ranked UCLA baseball team to improve, which could be daunting news for their competitors in the Big Ten.

On Sunday, the Bruins secured a 5-2 victory against Minnesota at Jackie Robinson Stadium, marking their third consecutive win over the Golden Gophers and extending their impressive Big Ten winning streak to 21 games. However, Savage feels there’s still room for improvement.

“Offensively, we didn’t do very well,” he remarked after the game, noting that the team went just 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left six players stranded. He added, “We didn’t click much, but showcasing strong pitching and defense consistently gives you a good shot at winning. That’s what happened all three games, really.”

The defense on Sunday was particularly notable, eclipsing standout performances like Roman Martin’s solo home run in the third inning and Will Gasparino’s two-run homer in the sixth.

Dean West, UCLA’s left fielder, made several remarkable catches—including two leaps and a dive—while the Bruins’ bullpen restricted Minnesota to just one run over 4 2/3 innings. Closer Easton Hawk wrapped up the game efficiently, throwing just six pitches in a clean ninth inning, securing his third save in recent play.

Savage acknowledged Minnesota’s effective pitching after the Golden Gophers (22-17 overall, 5-13 in the Big Ten) managed to limit the Bruins (36-3), citing that many of his players were facing situational challenges at the plate.

“We have some excellent offensive talents, though a few are in a rut right now, which happens in sports,” he stated. “They’re getting plenty of opportunities to hit. There are ups and downs, and that’s part of the game.”

What This Victory Indicates

The Bruins’ substantial win further highlights their desire for improvement.

“The team culture is solid; they genuinely believe in one another and play for each other,” Savage noted. “We’re lucky to have this group, and they enjoy being together. There’s no sense of complacency, even with our record. I mean, we’re 36-3, which is great, but the focus is on getting better and performing well in the next 75 days.”

Turning Point

It’s typically unwise to let a dominant team take an early lead, which is exactly what occurred when the Bruins scored twice in the first inning.

West started off with a single to center field, followed by Rock Cholowski’s double, which brought him home. After a balk, Martin drove in another run with an infield hit off the pitcher’s glove. UCLA took a 2-0 lead, leaving Minnesota unable to recover.

Did You Notice?

There was some tension when Minnesota objected to Gasparino admiring his home run before jogging around the bases.

Savage shared a similar sentiment, showing a bit of consensus across the dugouts. “I thought maybe he lingered in the box too long for my taste,” he said. “That’s not how we operate, and they clearly didn’t like that either.”

MVP

West made several key defensive plays that prevented extra-base hits.

When asked about his favorite catch, he admitted, “Probably the diving one. I think that was the coolest. It made me feel really engaged in the game.”