Tuesday, March 25
Los Angeles, CA
6:00 PM (PT)
UCLA
19-5
9
vs
8
LMU
14-11
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
LMU
0
0
0
1
0
3
4
0
0
8
7
3
UCLA
0
0
0
5
0
1
1
0
2
9
11
1
Cameron Kim
Photo by: Elijah Carr
Kim's Walk-Off Hit Lifts No. 24 UCLA Over LMU in Thrilling 9-8 Victory
March 25, 2025 | Baseball
LOS ANGELES โย Cameron Kim provided the heroics in the bottom of the ninth, delivering a walk-off base hit to lift No. 24 UCLA over LMU, 9-8, on Tuesday night at Jackie Robinson Stadium.ย
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UCLA (19-5, 7-2 Big Ten) jumped out to an early lead, but LMU (14-11, 2-1 WCC) clawed back, taking an 8-6 advantage in the seventh inning. The Bruins' bats came alive when it mattered most, scoring twice in the ninth to secure the walk-off victory.
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Kim, starting at second base for just the third time this season, had a two-hit day, driving in two runs. Blake Balsz was highly productive, going 1-for-4 with four RBIs and a run scored.
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Grant Gray enjoyed an excellent debut start, launching a two-run home run in what was his first career hit. Roman Martin banged out three hits and Mulivai Levu collected two.
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Both teams emptied the bullpen on Tuesday night with a combined 17 pitchers toeing the rubber in the contest. LMU brought nine pitchers to the mound while UCLA used eight.
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Easton Hawk made his collegiate debut on the bump, tossing one of the game's few scoreless innings.
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After three straight scoreless frames to start the contest, LMU opened the scoring with Beau Ankeney's solo shot to lead off the top of the fourth.
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UCLA immediately replied with five runs in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead. Back-to-back knocks from Levu and Martin set the table for Balsz, who promptly drove them home with his line drive base hit to left field.ย
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Balsz was able to race all the way to third base after the ball was misplayed by the left fielder, allowing Cameron Kim to score UCLA's designated hitter with a ground out to second base. Gray capped the five-run inning with a two-run blast, a no-doubt homer to left-center field.ย
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This home run was a memorable one for Gray as it was also his first career hit.
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In the sixth, LMU cut the lead to one with a three-run rally.ย The Bruins responded in the bottom half when Cashel Dugger executed a bunt in a first-and-third situation, successfully bringing the runner home from third base.
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LMU regained the lead in the seventh, scoring four runs on three hits. Blake Balsz drew a bases-loaded walk to get a run back for UCLA in its next trip to the plate, making it a one-run game and setting the stage for a thrilling ninth.
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Levu led off the last of the ninth by ripping a double in the right-center gap to represent the tying run. Martin followed by slapping a single through the right side, then Salgado walked to load the bases with no outs.
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Balsz then hit a grounder to shortstop, beating out the throw to avoid a double play and bring home the tying run.
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Kim came up with the biggest swing of the day, lifting a fly ball over the right fielder's head to plate the winning run and give UCLA yet another come-from-behind victory, it's 11thย of the campaign.
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The Bruins are set to travel to West Lafayette, Ind. for the opening game of a three-game set at Purdue on Friday, March 28 at 3 p.m. PT (6 p.m. ET). The games will be available to watch on B1G+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Rodriguez, Luke (2-0)
L: Jacob Hughes (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Zion Williams 1
HR: Beau Ankeney 1
RBI: Beau Ankeney 1 ; Zion Williams 1 ; Devan Ornelas 2 ; DJ Ghiorso 3 ; Nate Savoie 1
SF: Nate Savoie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cam Hassert 1 ; Beau Ankeney 3 ; Zion Williams 2 ; Devan Ornelas 1 ; Ashten Wong 1
HBP: Devan Ornelas 1 ; Nate Savoie 1 ; Ashten Wong 1
Batting:
2B: Brennan, Payton 1 ; Levu, Mulivai 1 ; Martin, Roman 2
HR: Gray, Grant 1
RBI: Balsz, Blake 4 ; Kim, Cameron 2 ; Dugger, Cashel 1 ; Gray, Grant 2
SH: Dugger, Cashel 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Levu, Mulivai 2 ; Call, Phoenix 1 ; Martin, Roman 1 ; Bythewood, Toussaint 1 ; Salgado, AJ 1 ; Balsz, Blake 1 ; Dugger, Cashel 1 ; Gray, Grant 1
SB: Brennan, Payton 1
CS: Brennan, Payton 1
HBP: Brennan, Payton 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
1
H
3
RBI
0
AB
5
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C
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RHP
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