UCLA's Shocking Exit: Upset by Saint Mary's in NCAA Baseball Tournament

UCLA entered the Los Angeles Regional as the top-ranked team but struggled on their home field. Saint Mary's, after losing to Cal Poly later that night, demonstrated resilience, tying the game in the bottom of the ninth and ultimately winning in the 10th inning with a single from Makoa Sniffen. This loss underscores the challenges top seeds face in maintaining dominance during tournament play.

The Bruins built early leads of 3-0 and 5-2, powered by Dean West, who hit a solo home run and drove in two runs. Roman Martin went 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Mulivai Levu added two hits. Trey Gudoy drove in a run with a second-inning double.

Several other notable upsets and achievements occurred in the 2026 regionals, including Little Rock's unexpected journey to the super regionals as a No. 4 seed and West Virginia's dramatic comeback win against Kentucky.

UCLA's coach, John Savage, admitted the team didn't play up to their standards during the regional tournament, and Saint Mary's played exceptionally well.

Roch Cholowsky, Logan Reddemann, Will Gasparino, Roman Martin, Mulivai Levu, and Cal Randall are all expected to be drafted.

The NCAA baseball tournament is known for its unpredictability, and UCLA's early exit proves that no team is immune to upsets. For fans, this serves as a reminder that past performance doesn't guarantee future success. For players, it highlights the importance of performing at their best under pressure. Despite the disappointing end, UCLA's players had a strong season and many are expected to have successful MLB careers.

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