UCLA 5, UTSA 2 Game 1 Recap: 2025 Los Angeles Super Regional

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The opening game of the 2025 NCAA Baseball Los Angeles Super Regional between the UTSA Roadrunners and the No. 15 national seed UCLA Bruins delivered a compelling mix of early fireworks, clutch pitching, and late-inning drama at Jackie Robinson Stadium. In their first-ever Super Regional appearance, UTSA looked to continue their Cinderella run, while UCLA, a perennial postseason contender, aimed to return to the College World Series for the first time since 2019. Ultimately, UCLA rallied for a 5-2 victory, moving within one win of Omaha and putting UTSA’s historic season on the brink2 3 4 79.

Game Overview

Final Score: UCLA 5, UTSA 2
Date: June 7, 2025
Location: Jackie Robinson Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Series: UCLA leads 1-0 (Best-of-Three)

Game Summary

Early Momentum: UTSA Strikes First

UTSA wasted no time making a statement in their Super Regional debut. Leadoff hitter Mason Lytle launched a home run to open the game, immediately silencing the home crowd and giving the Roadrunners a 1-0 lead. The momentum continued in the second inning, when Caden Miller executed a daring steal of home, pushing UTSA’s lead to 2-0 and putting pressure on the Bruins’ pitching staff2 79.

Bruins Respond: UCLA Levels the Score

UCLA answered quickly in the bottom of the second. Dean West and Roch Cholowsky hit back-to-back singles, setting the table for Mulivai Velu, who delivered an RBI double. Roman Martin then grounded out, but it was enough to bring home the tying run, knotting the score at 2-2 and shifting the momentum back to the Bruins2 79.

Turning Point: UCLA Takes the Lead

The pivotal moment came in the fourth inning. UCLA loaded the bases with singles from Payton Brennan, Cashel Duggar, and Phoenix Call. Dean West delivered a sacrifice fly, scoring Brennan and giving UCLA a 3-2 lead—a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the way2 79.

Pitching Duel: Barnett vs. Royse

UCLA’s Michael Barnett put together a strong outing, going six innings while allowing just two runs on six hits, with no walks and several key outs under pressure. His counterpart, UTSA’s Zach Royse, battled through traffic but was unable to keep the Bruins off the board after the second inning2 7.

Late Insurance: Martin Delivers Again

The Bruins added insurance in the eighth. Roman Martin, who was the offensive star of the day, ripped a two-out triple that drove in two more runs, extending UCLA’s lead to 5-2 and putting the game out of reach for the Roadrunners2 79.

Closing It Out: UCLA’s Bullpen Shuts the Door

Jack O’Connor and August Souza each tossed a no-hit inning of relief for UCLA, and Easton Hawk finished the ninth with a 1-2-3 frame, notching his seventh save of the season and sealing the Game 1 win for the Bruins2 7.

Key Performers

Player	Team	Stats/Highlights
Roman Martin	UCLA	2-for-4, 3 RBI, game-sealing 2-run triple
Michael Barnett	UCLA	6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, Win (12-1)
Easton Hawk	UCLA	1 IP, 0 H, 2 K, Save (7th of season)
Mason Lytle	UTSA	Leadoff HR
Caden Miller	UTSA	Stole home for UTSA’s second run
Zach Royse	UTSA	4+ IP, multiple hits allowed, took the loss

Statistical Breakdown

UTSA Roadrunners

Runs: 2
Hits: 6
Errors: 1
Key moments: Lytle HR (1st), Miller steal of home (2nd)

UCLA Bruins

Runs: 5
Hits: 10
Errors: 0
Key moments: West/Cholowsky singles, Velu RBI double, Martin 3 RBI, bullpen dominance

Game Flow and Analysis

First Two Innings:
UTSA’s aggressive start—highlighted by Lytle’s home run and Miller’s steal of home—put UCLA on its heels. The Roadrunners’ early 2-0 lead showcased their speed and willingness to take risks, a hallmark of their postseason run2 79.

Middle Innings:
UCLA’s offense responded with patient at-bats and timely hitting. After tying the game in the second, they capitalized on a bases-loaded situation in the fourth to take the lead. Barnett settled in, retiring key UTSA hitters and keeping the Roadrunners off the scoreboard through the middle innings2 79.

Late Innings:
UTSA threatened but could not break through against UCLA’s bullpen. The Bruins’ insurance runs in the eighth, courtesy of Martin’s triple, proved decisive. The combination of O’Connor, Souza, and Hawk was lights out, retiring the final nine UTSA batters in order2 79.

What This Means for Both Teams

UCLA Bruins:
With the win, UCLA moves to within one victory of the College World Series. The Bruins showed resilience after falling behind early and leaned on their postseason experience, strong pitching, and clutch hitting. Roman Martin’s three RBI and Barnett’s quality start were emblematic of a team built for deep tournament runs2 79.

UTSA Roadrunners:
Despite the loss, UTSA’s performance was emblematic of their historic season. The Roadrunners proved they could compete with a national seed on the road, and their aggressive style kept the game close into the late innings. Facing elimination in Game 2, UTSA will need to regroup quickly and find a way to generate more offense against UCLA’s deep pitching staff2 3 4 79.

Looking Ahead: Game 2 Preview

Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday, June 8, with UCLA needing just one more win to clinch a College World Series berth. UTSA, meanwhile, faces a must-win scenario to keep their season alive and force a decisive Game 3. Key questions for Game 2 include whether UTSA can find more offense against UCLA’s pitching and if the Bruins can continue their clutch hitting and bullpen dominance2 3 4 79.

Historical Context

UCLA: This is the Bruins’ seventh Super Regional appearance and their first since 2019. The program last won the College World Series in 2013 and is looking to return to Omaha for the first time in six years1 2 7.
UTSA: The Roadrunners are making their first-ever Super Regional appearance, having already set a program record for postseason wins and notching their first regional title by defeating Kansas State and Texas in the Austin Regional1 2 7.

Box Score Highlights

Inning	UTSA	UCLA
1st	1	0
2nd	1	2
4th	0	1
8th	0	2
Final	2	5

Key Takeaways

Roman Martin’s three RBI—including a game-sealing triple—were the difference for UCLA.
Michael Barnett’s six strong innings set the tone for the Bruins’ pitching staff.
UTSA’s aggressive baserunning gave them an early lead, but UCLA’s experience and depth prevailed.
UCLA’s bullpen was flawless, retiring the final nine batters and preserving the win.

Conclusion

Game 1 of the Los Angeles Super Regional delivered on its promise of high-stakes, postseason baseball. UCLA’s 5-2 comeback win over UTSA puts the Bruins on the cusp of a return to the College World Series, while the Roadrunners now face elimination in their first-ever Super Regional appearance. Both teams showcased the talent and drama that define NCAA Tournament baseball, setting the stage for another intense matchup in Game 2.

AI Disclaimer

This post was generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence, utilizing the latest available information and statistics from June 7, 2025. All summaries, analysis, and reporting are based on data and sources cited above. For official results and further details, please refer to NCAA and team sources.