In Omaha, Nebraska, UCLA secured a significant 6-4 win over Murray State, which was making its debut appearance at the College World Series on Saturday. Roman Martin and AJ Salgado both contributed two runs each, setting the pace for the Bruins. This victory marks UCLA’s return to the CWS since they captured the championship title in 2013. The Bruins initially established a commanding 6-0 lead, which they maintained despite the Racers’ efforts to close the gap during the game’s middle innings. Closer Easton Hawk delivered a flawless ninth inning to ensure UCLA’s fourth consecutive win in an Omaha opener.
UCLA’s head coach, John Savage, expressed cautious optimism, acknowledging the win but emphasizing the long journey ahead in the four-team bracket. The Bruins, boasting a season record of 48-16, are set to face off against LSU, a national seed ranked sixth, on Monday night. LSU recently triumphed over the third-seeded Arkansas with a 4-1 victory. On the other hand, Murray State, representing the Missouri Valley Conference, and holding a 44-16 record, will face elimination in their game against Arkansas on Monday.
Pitcher Ian May, who came on as the second of five relievers following starter Michael Barnett, secured the win by pitching a solid inning. UCLA enjoyed the upper hand from the start, maintaining a 27-1 record when scoring first. In the first inning alone, they loaded the bases with no outs against Nic Schutte, who eventually found his rhythm with consecutive strikeouts to minimize the damage to 1-0. In the second inning, Dean West added another run, and the third saw an additional four runs, thanks in part to a well-executed safety squeeze bunt and Salgado’s two-run double.
Although UCLA jumped ahead, Savage acknowledged Murray State’s competitiveness, predicting they would continue to fight back. The Racers put an end to UCLA’s 20 2/3-inning scoreless streak with Jonathan Hogart sliding home in the fifth to score off Carson Garner’s right-field drive. The Bruins had previously kept their opponents from scoring since the second inning of their super regional opener against UTSA. Murray State further narrowed the gap, scoring a run in the sixth and two in the eighth, closing the deficit to 6-4 following consecutive RBI groundouts.
Savage reflected on the unpredictable nature of the Omaha stage, stating that anticipating challenges is crucial to avoiding an early exit. Hawk successfully navigated the ninth inning with a two-run lead, retiring the key batters of the Racers’ lineup to secure his eighth save. Racers coach Dan Skirka expressed pride in his team’s tenacity, acknowledging that although the result was not in their favor, the players showed resilience and did deserve their presence on this stage. He praised them for their relentless fighting spirit and refusal to back down.