No. 1 UCLA baseball leaves Loyola Marymount all wet after sprinkler snafu – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
Los Angeles — With one strike separating Loyola Marymount from an upset victory over the nation’s top-ranked UCLA baseball team, the home team’s field sprinklers suddenly activated in the bottom of the ninth inning. The unexpected deluge paused play for about 30 seconds on Tuesday night at Page Stadium, but Bruins reliever Justin Lee quickly regained composure and fanned the final batter to preserve an 8-4 win.[1][2] UCLA improved to 44-4 with the victory, their final midweek contest of the regular season.
The Sprinkler Surprise in the Ninth
LMU clung to faint hopes late in the game, down by four runs with two outs recorded. Bruins pitcher Justin Lee worked the count to two strikes on the Lions’ batter when the irrigation system malfunctioned, spraying water across the diamond. Players from both sides stood drenched and waited as grounds crew addressed the issue.[1]
UCLA coach John Savage later quipped about the oddity. “I guess it’s a time thing… The game was too long so the sprinklers said, ‘Hey, let’s go and get out of here.’”[1] Lee delivered the decisive strikeout on the next pitch, ending the contest without further drama. The incident, while bizarre, underscored the Bruins’ resilience under pressure.
UCLA Jumps Ahead Early
The Bruins wasted little time asserting dominance. In the top of the first inning, UCLA plated three runs on just two hits, capitalizing on LMU pitchers issuing two walks and plunking another batter. Eight Bruins batters came to the plate in that frame, setting a commanding tone.[1][2]
They added one more in the second on an unearned run via wild pitch, then exploded for three in the third — again aided by LMU errors and miscues. A sacrifice fly in the fifth pushed the lead to 8-1 before the Lions mounted their response. UCLA’s opportunistic offense stranded 11 runners but converted enough chances to build a cushion.
LMU’s Brief Rally Falls Short
Loyola Marymount, mired in a 12-38 season, showed fight in the middle innings. They scratched across an unearned run in the second on a wild pitch. The highlight came in the fifth, when J. Ortiz crushed a three-run homer to narrow the gap to 8-4.[2]
Yet the Lions managed only five hits total and left just two runners on base. UCLA’s defense, led by shortstop Roch Cholowsky’s ranging plays, stifled further threats. Cholowsky charged a slow roller early and made a deep-hole stab in the fifth, preserving the lead.
Pitching Depth Carries the Day
UCLA employed seven pitchers who combined for 11 strikeouts and zero walks — a testament to their bullpen inventory. Freshman Mack Edwards tossed a perfect sixth inning in his second appearance of the year, fanning the side’s final batter to drop his ERA from 99.00 to 9.00. Savage praised the effort: “It was just fun to see a guy stay sharp who hasn’t been used.”[1]
| Inning | UCLA | LMU |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | 1 | 3 |
| 6-9 | 0 | 0 |
Standouts included catcher Kasen Khansarinia with two RBIs and strong defense, plus second baseman Phoenix Call’s two hits, a triple, and two runs scored. The Bruins tallied eight hits against LMU’s staff.[2]
Depth and Momentum for Playoffs
Savage emphasized building layers for the postseason. “It’s just about adding pieces to the team, and making sure you have enough depth and inventory to go down the road.”[1] Updates on injured players offered optimism: first baseman Mulivai Levu expected back soon from illness, ace Logan Reddemann ramping up from arm fatigue for the Big Ten Tournament.
UCLA eyes 50 wins before postseason play begins, opening a home series against Oregon on Friday. The sprinkler mishap may become clubhouse lore, but the win reinforced why the Bruins hold the top spot.
