UCLA Bruins Take on Underdog Role Against LSU After 6-4 Win Over Murray State
The #15 seed Bruins haven't had to play a higher seeded team until this evening.
After defeating Murray State on Saturday by a score of 6-4, the UCLA Bruins advanced to tonight’s winner’s bracket game against the #6 seed LSU Tigers. First pitch for this evening’s game is scheduled for 4 pm PT and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.
This should be UCLA’s toughest game so far due to the fact that it will be the first time the Bruins have faced a higher seeded team in this year’s tournament. Even the Tigers are seeded higher than UCLA, LSU’s season record is only a game better than the Bruins. So, tonight’s game should be a good one.
While neither team has announced starting pitchers, it looks like sophomore right-hander Landon Stump (6-1, 4.54 ERA) will take the hill for the Bruins while junior righty Anthony Eyanson (11-2, 2.74 ERA) is expected for the Tigers. That’s based on both teams’ previous pitching rotations and who started on Saturday. Evanson’s ERA is definitely a concern for the Bruins.
As a result, tonight’s game will likely come down to two things. The first is what the UCLA offense does against LSU pitching. A big key for the Bruins will be getting into the Tiger bullpen as early as possible. Meanwhile, the other big question will be: Can the UCLA bullpen shut down the Tigers they way they shut down UTSA last week? If both of these goes the Bruins’ way, expect UCLA to advance to Game 12 on Wednesday when a berth in the CWS Finals will be on the line. If the Tigers get to UCLA’s pitchers, the Bruins could find themselves playing an elimination game tomorrow instead.
Last Time Out
The Bruins got on the board early on Saturday against Murray State with a pair of breadsticks in the first two innings. Dean West and Roch Cholowsky got things started in the bottom of the first with back-to-back walks and a single by Mulivai Levu loaded the bases. Another walk to Roman Martin forced West in and put the Bruins up, 1-0.
The bottom of the second began with the Bruins’ leadoff batter getting on base again. This time, it was a double by Cashel Dugger that gave UCLA a runner in scoring position. Phoenix Call advanced Dugger to third on a sac bunt down the third base line. That brought West up for the second time in two innings. His single to right easily scored Dugger and the Bruins led 2-0.
With one out in the fourth, Call singled to right and West followed with a single to center which sent Call from first to third. Cholowsky was called on for a safety squeeze which he easily tapped towards first, giving the Racers’ starter Nic Schutte only a play at first. Meanwhile, Call raced home for the Bruins’ third run. After Levu was hit by a pitch, a liner up the middle by Martin scored West and moved Levu to third. On the play, Racer centerfield Jonathan Hogart tried to catch Levu at third but the throw was not in time. That throw also allowed Martin to move up to second. AJ Salgado lined the first pitch he saw into right field and off the wall for a two-run double. That double would prove to be the game-winner and UCLA led 6-0 after four innings.
The Racers did what they could but it was too little, too late. They added a breadstick in both the fifth and the sixth to cut the Bruin lead to four. Murray State added two more in the eighth to make a game of it heading into the ninth.
John Savage turned to Easton Hawk for the ninth inning and Hawk came through with his fifth consecutive appearance without a run by throwing a 1-2-3 ninth that was sandwiched with a pair of strikeouts. It was the first save of his career for the freshman.
While Michael Barnett threw four and two-thirds innings and allowed just a run on three hits, and striking out four, Ian May’s scoreless sixth was good enough to earn him his 8th win of the season.
Here is the full CWS schedule:
Friday, June 13
Game 1: #13 Coastal Carolina defeats Arizona, 7-4
Game 2: #8 Oregon State defeats Louisville, 4-3
Saturday, June 14
Game 3: #15 UCLA defeats Murray State, 6-4
Game 4: #6 LSU defeats #3 Arkansas, 4-1
Sunday, June 15
Game 5: Arizona vs. Louisville at 11:00 am PT on ESPN
Game 6: #13 Coastal Carolina vs. #8 Oregon State at 4:00 pm PT on ESPN2
Monday, June 16
Game 7: Murray State vs. Arkansas at 11:00 am PT on ESPN
Game 8: #15 UCLA vs. #6 LSU at 4:00 pm PT on ESPN
Tuesday, June 17
Game 9: Louisville vs. #8 Oregon State at 11:00 am PT on ESPN
Game 10: Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Loser at 4:00 pm PT on ESPN
Wednesday, June 18
Game 11: #13 Coastal Carolina vs. Game 9 Winner at 11:00 am PT on ESPN
Game 12: Game 8 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner, 4:00 pm PT on ESPN
Thursday, June 19
Game 13 (if necessary): Game 11 teams at TBD
Game 14 (if necessary): Game 12 teams at TBD
Championship Finals
Game 1: 4:00 pm PT, Saturday, June 21 on ESPN
Game 2: 11:30 pm PT, Sunday, June 22 on ABC
Game 3 (if necessary): 4:30 pm PT, Monday, June 23 on ESPN
This is your UCLA Bruins vs. LSU Tigers CWS Game #8 game thread.
College World Series
Game #8
Teams: #15 seed UCLA Bruins (48-16) vs. #6 LSU Tigers (49-15)
When: 4:00 pm PT, Monday, June 14, 2025
Where: Charles Schwab Field Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska
TV: ESPN with Karl Ravech, Eduardo Perez, Kyle Peterson, and Kris Budden
Live Stream: WatchESPN.com and the ESPN app
Live Audio: uclabruins.com with Nick Koop and Sid Iyer
Live Stats: NCAA Game Center
Game #8 Probable Pitchers:
UCLA - Landon Stump, RHP, So. (6-1, 4.54 ERA)
LSU - Anthony Eyanson, RHP, Jr., (11-2, 2.74 ERA)
NCAA CWS Bracket
Go Bruins!!! Bring home NC #125!!!
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Tonight's game has officially been suspended. It will resume tomorrow morning at 8 am PT.
Not sure how that will affect the rest of the schedule for tomorrow at this point.
This is getting ugly. Now, Savage needs to start playing to save the bullpen for tonight's game.