The No. 15 UCLA Bruins capped off a dominant weekend with a 6–3 win over Penn State on Sunday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Stadium, completing a three-game sweep of the Nittany Lions. With the victory, UCLA improved to 32–11 overall and 16–5 in Big Ten play, while Penn State dropped to 25–17 and 12-12 in conference action.
From the outset, the Bruins seized control. After Penn State plated a run in the top of the first inning with a pair of singles, UCLA responded immediately in the bottom half. Dean West led off with a single to center, Roch Cholowsky was hit by a pitch and Mulivai Levu delivered a two-run double into the gap to quickly flip the score. Roman Martin then ripped an RBI single up the middle, giving UCLA a 3–1 lead that they would not relinquish.
Penn State trimmed the deficit to 3–2 in the fourth with a solo home run from Joe Jaconski, but UCLA’s offense stayed steady. Cholowsky came through again in the fifth, lining a hard-hit ball off the third baseman’s glove to score Phoenix Call and extend the Bruins’ lead to two runs.
The Nittany Lions managed to pull back within one in the sixth, manufacturing a run against UCLA starter Landon Stump. But after the seventh-inning stretch, Cholowsky delivered the dagger—blasting his third home run of the weekend, a towering two-run shot to left-center that gave the Bruins breathing room at 6–3.
On the mound, Stump (4–0) delivered a quality start, striking out a season-high seven over 5.1 innings of work. Lefty Chris Grothues was lights-out in relief, retiring all eight batters he faced in 2.2 perfect innings. Freshman Easton Hawk closed the door in the ninth, inducing a clutch 4–6–3 double play to end the game and secure his first career save.
The Bruins’ offense was led by the duo of Cholowsky and West, who both hit .455 across the weekend series. Cholowsky, UCLA’s standout shortstop, raised his season average to .373 and continues to pace the Bruins with 16 home runs and 51 RBIs.
Game Breakdown
Penn State grabbed an early 1–0 lead in the top of the first inning, but UCLA wasted no time responding. A base hit from West, a hit-by-pitch for Cholowsky and a clutch two-run double from Levu gave the Bruins a quick advantage. Martin’s RBI single made it 3–1 after one inning.
Jaconski’s solo homer for Penn State in the fourth closed the gap to 3–2, but Cholowsky’s RBI single restored the two-run cushion in the fifth. Penn State once again edged closer in the sixth, but Cholowsky’s two-run homer after the seventh-inning stretch gave the Bruins a 6–3 lead they would not surrender.
Grothues and Hawk combined to record the final 11 outs without allowing a hit, with Hawk inducing the game-ending double play after Penn State placed runners on the corners in the ninth.
What’s Ahead?
The Bruins will face crosstown rival USC on Friday, May 2, at 6:30 p.m. With both bragging rights and Big Ten positioning on the line, UCLA looks to stay hot and carry its momentum into the rivalry matchup.
Gallery:
#4 infielder, Phoenix Call, connects with the pitch for a base hit. Photographed by Maia Salti/BruinLife
#36 Dean West dives headfirst into second base, beating the tag to stay safe. Photographed by Maia Salti/BruinLife
Infielder #1, Roch Cholowsky, returns to the dugout after blasting a home run, greeted by his teammates with cheers and pats on the back. Photographed By Maia Salti/BruinLife
#39 Mulivai Levu, slides into home plate, scoring a run against Penn State. Photographed by Maia Salti/BruinLife
Outfielder #36, Dean West, shares a moment with young fans on the field with high-fives. Photographed by Maia Salti/BruinLife
Phoenix Call rounds third base with speed, heading towards home base to score a run.
Photographed by Maia Salti/BruinLife
UCLA players stand for the national anthem prior to the first pitch. Photographed by Maia Salti/BruinLife
