No. 1 UCLA Beats No. 4 Mississippi State in Comeback Fashion, 8-7

Sunday, March 1

Arlington, Texas

12:30 PM (PT)

UCLA

9-2

No. 4 Mississippi State

11-1

UCLA

Mississippi St.

Photo by: Ross Turteltaub

No. 1 UCLA Beats No. 4 Mississippi State in Comeback Fashion, 8-7

March 01, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

ARLINGTON, Texas – No. 1 UCLA earned a dramatic comeback win over No. 4 Mississippi State, 8-7, in the final game of the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series held at Globe Life Field. Roch Cholowsky hit a game-tying home run with two outs in the ninth before Aidan Espinoza hit a bases-clearing triple to put the Bruins in front in the top of the 10th.

With the win, UCLA (9-2) hands Mississippi State (11-1) its first loss of the season and finishes the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series 3-0 and tournament champions. Will Gasparino was named tournament MVP after going 5-for-11 over the three games, mashing four home runs, and tallying seven RBI.

The ninth inning had a flair for the dramatic. With the Bruins down 5-3, two quick outs put the Bruins down to their final out, but Dean West would reach base on a hit-by-pitch, setting the stage for Cholowsky. The UCLA star shortstop jumped on the first pitch he saw, driving it over the left-center wall for a game-tying blast.

THE MAN FOR THE BIG MOMENT

??FloSports#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/yaMo2xW6Kc

— UCLA Baseball (@UCLABaseball) March 1, 2026

In the bottom of the ninth Mississippi State quickly got its leadoff batter to reach. Then the second batter of the inning smacked what appeared to be the game-winning hit, but the ball would bounce over the wall in right-center, landing the runners at second and third with no outs. Easton Hawk clutched up when it mattered most, getting back-to-back strikeouts, and inducing a groundout from First Team All-American Ace Reese to get out of the jam and send the game to extra innings.

After tying the game in the ninth, the Bruins took the lead in the 10th. UCLA loaded the bases and with two outs in the inning and a 1-2 count to Espinzoa, a wild pitch scored Payton Brennen to put the Bruins up 6-5. With a full count, Espinzoa squared one up and sent a line drive into the gap in right-center field for a triple, scoring two more and giving the Bruins an 8-5 advantage.

AIDAN ESPINOZA!!!

??FloSports#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/CV4aEHV6Wk

— UCLA Baseball (@UCLABaseball) March 2, 2026

Mississippi State tacked on two more in the bottom of the 10th before Hawk tallied back-to-back strikeouts and a lineout to close out the game, giving UCLA the win 8-7.

After two scoreless frames to start the contest, Gasparino broke the deadlock in the third, continuing his blistering run by unloading a no-doubt two-run homer to give UCLA the early lead.

The Bruins tacked on another run in the fourth when Cashel Dugger, down to two strikes, stayed on a changeup and shot a single through the right side to score Martin, who had opened the inning with a base hit up the middle.

Mississippi State answered with a three-run fourth to pull even, knocking Landon Stump out of the game in the process. Reed Stallman jump-started the surge with a two-run homer, and Ryder Woodson followed with an RBI double to cap the inning.

The game would remain tied at 3-3 until the bottom of the seventh, when a sacrifice fly gave the Bulldogs their first lead of the contest. In the eighth, Mississippi State added another insurance run when Noah Sullivan hit a solo shot, making it a two-run lead heading into the ninth.

Up Next: The Bruins return to Jackie Robinson Stadium on Tuesday, March 3, to host Cal State Fullerton. First pitch is set for 5:00 pm PT and the game will be broadcast on B1G+.