UCLA baseball continues to succeed by narrowly defeating Sacramento State

April 26, 2026

College Baseball Drama at Jackie Robinson Stadium

It seems like the universe wanted to sprinkle some drama into this college baseball series over the past couple of days.

How else can you explain the events that unfolded at Jackie Robinson Stadium?

On one side, you had UCLA, the top-ranked team nationally, enjoying an unbeaten run in the Big Ten Conference.

On the other side, Sacramento State, a team struggling below .500 in the Western Athletic Conference. It’s almost as if the Hornets thrive on unpredictability.

After almost pulling off an upset against the Bruins the day before, they posed another challenge on their home turf.

“This is college baseball,” noted UCLA coach Jon Savage, referencing the wild swings in performance this sport can bring.

The Bruins overcame some tense moments and more missteps from closer Easton Hoke to secure a 5-3 victory on a chilly, rainy Saturday afternoon.

UCLA’s Cashel Dugger got things rolling with a leadoff single, later moving to third base thanks to a double from Peyton Brennan. He ultimately scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning. After Jarrod Hocking flied out, Dugger powered a home run on a wild pitch.

Dean West capped the scoring with a single that pushed the lead to 5-3, marking a comeback from an early 2-0 deficit.

“In games like these, when things don’t go our way, we just remind ourselves to keep pushing through,” said first baseman Muribayi Lev, who, along with Rock Cholowski and Will Gasparino, contributed solo home runs that kept UCLA’s offense steady.

In a game just the day before, the Bruins (39-3) had staged a fierce ninth-inning rally to defeat the Hornets (19-25) in the opener. That comeback was highlighted by Roman Martin’s clutch RBI, punctuated by Cholowski scoring after a misthrow to home plate.

What It Means

While Savage acknowledged that finding ways to win is crucial, he insists it shouldn’t overshadow the areas where the team needs improvement. They did leave 11 runners stranded and managed just a 2-for-11 success rate with runners in scoring position.

“It’s like putting a band-aid on a bigger issue from a player’s view, but it’s a lot more analytical from the coach’s perspective,” Savage explained. “You can’t lose sight of the need to elevate our game.”

Turning Point

In a moment of levity for the Hornets, they managed to tie the game at three in the seventh inning through a series of errors and aggressive plays.

Things looked to take a turn for the worse for the Bruins in the eighth as the first two Sacramento batters reached base, prompting Savage to call upon Hawk.

Smart move, indeed.

Although Jacob Potrunak hit a two-run homer in the first inning, Hawk responded by striking him out on three pitches. Even after a couple of wild pitches allowed two runners to advance, Hawk closed the door by striking out the next batter.

When asked about his strategy in that tight spot, Hawk shared, “I just threw a bunch of sliders. Followed the game plan and trusted the signs.”

Did You Hear That?

The Bruins’ junior public address announcer seemed to hit his stride, particularly when he pronounced “Moo-lee-vie luh-VOO” correctly in the fifth inning, leading to a little stroke of luck. An excited shout of “Home run!” marked a solo shot that tied the game.

MVP

Hawk’s impressive performance included throwing 16 of his 20 pitches for strikes and securing his tenth save with a clean 1-2-3 ninth inning. His current streak is a testament to his arsenal, featuring a potent fastball that reaches 97 mph along with a solid slider and changeup.

“He’s versatile; he can attack batters from different angles,” praised Savage.