Thursday, May 22
Omaha, Neb.
7:00 AM (PT)
UCLA
41-15
7
vs
5
Michigan
33-23
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9
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H
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Michigan
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2
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UCLA
0
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1
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X
7
10
1
August Souza
Photo by: Big Ten Conference
No. 13 UCLA Rallies Late to Stay Perfect in Pool Play with 7-5 Win Over Michigan
May 22, 2025 | Baseball
OMAHA, Neb. – The No. 13-ranked UCLA baseball team rallied late with a decisive three-run eighth inning, storming past Michigan 7-5 to keep a spotless record in pool play at the Big Ten Baseball Tournament presented by IFS.ai.
The back-and-forth battle saw five lead changes before the Bruins (41-15, 22-8 Big Ten) finally seized control for good, setting up a showdown with third-seeded Iowa in the semifinal round of the tournament on Saturday night.
The Bruins' offense was firing on all cylinders, led by Payton Brennan's second consecutive multi-hit performance that included a clutch RBI triple. Roman Martin sparked two separate rallies for UCLA with two hits and two runs scored, while Aidan Espinoza and Blake Balsz each delivered a pair of hits in the contest
Roch Cholowsky stayed scorching hot, crushing his 22nd homer of the season for his sixth blast in the last seven games. His 22 home runs on the year are the most by a Bruin since 2000 when Forrest Johnson hit 23.
Cholowsky is one of seven players nationally with 22 or more home runs.
UCLA pieced it together on the mound, calling on five arms - including two on back-to-back days. Ryan Rissas (1-2) claimed his first victory in Bruin blue with two pristine frames, working around a lone walk to keep Michigan's offense silent.
After a scoreless first frame, the Bruins rallied for three runs in the second to take a commanding lead. Roman Martin set the tone by hammering a leadoff double off the right-field wall, then AJ Salgado drew a free pass to put a pair of runners on. Payton Brennan continued his solid week in Omaha with a sharp line drive over the shortstop's head to plate the first run of the game. After Aidan Espinoza's walk loaded the bases, Blake Balsz slapped a two-run single through the left side to cap the three-run inning.
Michigan clawed back in the third, pushing across two runs to trim the lead to one. CJ Bott, making his second straight appearance, was lifted after surrendering consecutive hits to open the frame.
The Wolverines surged ahead in the fourth when Benny Casillas launched a two-run blast.
UCLA drew level in the bottom of the fifth when Roch Cholowsky hit a monster solo shot over the center-field wall.
Michigan quickly regained its lead in the following inning when Greg Pace Jr. answered with a solo home run of his own.
The Bruins used a three-spot in the eighth to pull out in front once again. Martin was the spark plug yet again when his sharp liner to left gave UCLA a leadoff base runner. Brennan followed by bouncing a ground ball over the first baseman's head, which trickled into the right-field corner for an RBI triple that tied the game.
Espinoza delivered the go-ahead RBI base knock, lacing a single into center field. After Balsz ripped a base hit to right, Phoenix Call laid down a well-executed sacrifice bunt in a first-and-third situation to bring Espinoza to home plate, giving his team a two-run cushion going into the ninth.
August Souza tossed a perfect ninth inning to close the door in the final frame to notch his first save in a UCLA uniform.
The Bruins will take on No. 3-seed Iowa in the semifinal round of the tournament on Saturday, May 24 at 4 p.m. PT (6 p.m. CT). The game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network.
The back-and-forth battle saw five lead changes before the Bruins (41-15, 22-8 Big Ten) finally seized control for good, setting up a showdown with third-seeded Iowa in the semifinal round of the tournament on Saturday night.
The Bruins' offense was firing on all cylinders, led by Payton Brennan's second consecutive multi-hit performance that included a clutch RBI triple. Roman Martin sparked two separate rallies for UCLA with two hits and two runs scored, while Aidan Espinoza and Blake Balsz each delivered a pair of hits in the contest
Roch Cholowsky stayed scorching hot, crushing his 22nd homer of the season for his sixth blast in the last seven games. His 22 home runs on the year are the most by a Bruin since 2000 when Forrest Johnson hit 23.
Cholowsky is one of seven players nationally with 22 or more home runs.
UCLA pieced it together on the mound, calling on five arms - including two on back-to-back days. Ryan Rissas (1-2) claimed his first victory in Bruin blue with two pristine frames, working around a lone walk to keep Michigan's offense silent.
After a scoreless first frame, the Bruins rallied for three runs in the second to take a commanding lead. Roman Martin set the tone by hammering a leadoff double off the right-field wall, then AJ Salgado drew a free pass to put a pair of runners on. Payton Brennan continued his solid week in Omaha with a sharp line drive over the shortstop's head to plate the first run of the game. After Aidan Espinoza's walk loaded the bases, Blake Balsz slapped a two-run single through the left side to cap the three-run inning.
Michigan clawed back in the third, pushing across two runs to trim the lead to one. CJ Bott, making his second straight appearance, was lifted after surrendering consecutive hits to open the frame.
The Wolverines surged ahead in the fourth when Benny Casillas launched a two-run blast.
UCLA drew level in the bottom of the fifth when Roch Cholowsky hit a monster solo shot over the center-field wall.
Michigan quickly regained its lead in the following inning when Greg Pace Jr. answered with a solo home run of his own.
The Bruins used a three-spot in the eighth to pull out in front once again. Martin was the spark plug yet again when his sharp liner to left gave UCLA a leadoff base runner. Brennan followed by bouncing a ground ball over the first baseman's head, which trickled into the right-field corner for an RBI triple that tied the game.
Espinoza delivered the go-ahead RBI base knock, lacing a single into center field. After Balsz ripped a base hit to right, Phoenix Call laid down a well-executed sacrifice bunt in a first-and-third situation to bring Espinoza to home plate, giving his team a two-run cushion going into the ninth.
August Souza tossed a perfect ninth inning to close the door in the final frame to notch his first save in a UCLA uniform.
The Bruins will take on No. 3-seed Iowa in the semifinal round of the tournament on Saturday, May 24 at 4 p.m. PT (6 p.m. CT). The game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Rissas, Ryan (1-2)
L: Preston Barr (1-1)
S: Souza, August (1)
Batting:
2B: Benjamin Casillas 1 ; Noah Miller 1
HR: Benjamin Casillas 1 ; Greg Pace Jr 1
RBI: Benjamin Casillas 3 ; Mitch Voit 1 ; Greg Pace Jr 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Benjamin Casillas 2 ; Greg Pace Jr 3
HBP: Brayden Jefferis 1
Batting:
2B: Martin, Roman 1
3B: Brennan, Payton 1
HR: Cholowsky, Roch 1
RBI: Cholowsky, Roch 1 ; Brennan, Payton 2 ; Espinoza, Aidan 1 ; Balsz, Blake 2 ; Call, Phoenix 1
SH: Call, Phoenix 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cholowsky, Roch 1 ; Martin, Roman 2 ; Salgado, AJ 1 ; Brennan, Payton 2 ; Gray, Grant 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
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RHP
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