No. 1 UCLA Rallies From Five Down to Complete Sweep Over Ohio State, 10-7

Sunday, March 8

Columbus, OH

10:00 AM (PT)

UCLA

13-2, 3-0

Ohio State

5-9, 0-3

UCLA

Ohio State

Photo by: Ohio State

No. 1 UCLA Rallies From Five Down to Complete Sweep Over Ohio State, 10-7

March 08, 2026 | Baseball

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 1-ranked UCLA baseball team erased a five-run deficit and stormed back for a 10-7 win in Sunday's series finale, completing a sweep of Ohio State at Bill Davis Stadium.

The Bruins (13-2, 3-0 Big Ten) fell behind after surrendering five runs in the bottom of the third, but Dean West jump-started the comeback with a bases-clearing double in the fifth to tie the game at 5–5. Mulivai Levu then delivered his third homer of the weekend, a two-run blast in the eighth, to put UCLA in front. The Bruins added three insurance runs down the stretch to hold off the Buckeyes (5-9, 0-3 Big Ten) and finish off the sweep.

Easton Hawk (2-1) came up clutch for UCLA, delivering 2.1 steady innings to earn his second win of the season. The right-hander stopped Ohio State's momentum when he entered in the seventh with the Bruins trailing by one, then held the Buckeyes in check after UCLA reclaimed the lead. Hawk allowed just one run in his outing and finished the game with a strikeout to lock down the sweep.

All nine UCLA starters recorded a hit, with West and Will Gasparino turning in two-hit performances. Roman Martin reached base five times, drawing two walks and two hit-by-pitches to go along with his base knock.

Phoenix Call made his first start of the season at second base and delivered a highly productive day, going 1-for-2 with an RBI, a run scored, two walks, and a hit-by-pitch.

After two scoreless innings to open the game, Ohio State broke through in the third, plating five runs to jump in front. The Buckeyes capitalized on a UCLA defensive miscue and added three hits in the frame, turning the opportunity into their first lead of the series.

The Bruins began their comeback in the fifth, erupting for five runs to pull even at 5-5. Levu reached on an error to open the inning, and Martin was hit by a pitch to set the stage for Gasparino, who bounced an RBI single through the left side. Dugger followed by smoking a run-scoring liner to left, and Espinoza's infield pop-up dropped on a miscommunication to keep the rally moving. Call then worked a four-pitch walk to load the bases, then West delivered the big swing, a bases-clearing double into the gap to cap the five-run surge.

The Buckeyes regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning when Maddix Simpson lifted a sacrifice fly to plate Mason Eckleman to pull in front, 6-5.

In the eighth, Cholowsky battled through a 3-2 count to draw a leadoff walk, setting the stage for Levu, who delivered the biggest swing of the afternoon, a two-run blast to left-center that put UCLA in front. Four straight walks followed, including a bases-loaded free pass to Call, stretching the Bruins' lead to two.

UCLA added insurance in the ninth when Brennan hammered a double off the wall in left-center, then Gasparino lifted a sacrifice fly to left for his eighth RBI of the weekend, pushing the Bruins' lead to four.

Hawk ran into trouble in the ninth, surrendering three straight singles to load the bases with no outs. The right-hander responded with an important play for the first out of the inning, spinning and firing to second to pick off the runner at second base and stem the momentum. Ohio State nearly pulled within one when Miles Vandenheuvel drilled a double off the top of the wall in left-center, but only a single run came across. Hawk then bore down for the final out, getting a swinging strikeout to end the threat and secure the sweep for UCLA.

The Bruins will return to Jackie Robinson Stadium on Tuesday, March 10 to host UC Irvine. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. PT, with coverage available on B1G+.