In a clash of top-tier Big Ten programs, it was the Duckswho walked away flying higher.
No. 15 UCLA baseball (29-10, 13-5 Big Ten) saw its weekend series streak snapped by No. 13 Oregon (27-11, 14-7 Big Ten) at PK Park in Eugene, Oregon. Despite outscoring the Ducks 21-16 over three games, the Bruins only emerged victorious once — a commanding 14-4 win on Saturday — as Oregon bookended the series with a 2-1 pitchers’ duel on Friday and a 10-6 slugfest on Easter Sunday.
“It was anticipated that we’re going to have some really competitive games, and it turned out that way,” UCLA coach John Savage said.
Friday: A Duel on the Mound
The opener showcased a classic battle of arms. Freshman right-hander Wylan Moss impressed again, surrendering just one run across five innings, while redshirt sophomore Chris Grothues provided 2.2 strong frames out of the bullpen. But Oregon’s Grayson Grinsell stole the show, delivering his first complete game with just two baserunners allowed and seven strikeouts to secure the 2-1 win.
Savage called it “a very clean game,” but the Bruins’ bats couldn’t break through Grinsell’s rhythm.
Saturday: An Offensive Outburst
UCLA rebounded emphatically on Saturday, with eight of nine starters collecting hits in a blowout victory. Home runs from Dean West, Roch Cholowsky, and Jarrod Hocking headlined the barrage, while Mulivai Levu racked up his third four-hit performance of the year. The Bruins capitalized on Oregon’s lack of control, with Duck pitchers surrendering 12 hits, 14 runs, and a staggering seven hit-by-pitches — their most in a single game since 2018.
On the mound, Michael Barnett helped right the ship with four solid innings, supported by a bullpen that limited the Ducks to just one run the rest of the way.
Sunday: Comeback Hopes Crushed
Sunday’s rubber match began with promise for the Bruins, who erased an early 2-0 hole to take a 4-2 lead by the fourth inning, punctuated by Roman Martin’s third homer of the season. But the momentum didn’t last. Oregon chased starter Landon Stump after 3.2 innings, tagging him for six runs, and continued their assault late with four more runs off relievers Easton Hawk and Justin Lee.
UCLA’s bullpen struggled to contain Oregon’s relentless offense, which ended the day with 12 hits and 10 runs. In total, seven Bruins pitchers took the mound Sunday, but none could provide the needed stopgap.
Meanwhile, the Ducks launched five homers over the weekend, including two from center fielder Mason Neville, who broke Oregon’s single-season record with his 18th and 19th blasts. UCLA matched the home run total, but three came during Saturday’s win and weren’t enough to overcome Oregon’s timely power on Friday and Sunday.
“Our starting pitching was pretty average this weekend,” Savage said. “And they know that. They’ve been hit over the head with that … It’s something they understand the importance of.”
Looking Ahead
The Bruins will need to bounce back quickly with conference implications tightening. The loss marks UCLA’s first series defeat since May 2024, and as Savage emphasized, consistency on the mound will be key down the stretch.
For now, they leave Eugene with a bitter taste and a lesson learned: when you put all your eggs in one basket — especially against a team like Oregon — it might just get cracked.
