LOS ANGELES, CA — Top-ranked UCLA shook off an early deficit and pounded out 13 runs to defeat Tulane 13-5 on Tuesday night at Jackie Robinson Stadium, scoring in seven of eight innings to secure a midweek nonconference victory.
The Bruins (No. 1 in the preseason polls) trailed 2-0 before their offense erupted behind key contributions from Roch Cholowsky and Will Gasparino, each of whom homered as UCLA improved its early-season momentum. Tulane, playing a midweek road contest, could not contain the Bruins’ relentless lineup once it found its rhythm.
UCLA responded quickly after falling behind in the opening innings, stringing together timely hits and capitalizing on Tulane pitching miscues. By the middle frames, the Bruins had seized control, plating runs in consecutive innings and steadily building separation.
“We didn’t panic when we went down early,” UCLA coach John Savage said. “This group understands that it’s nine innings. Once we settled in offensively, we started taking better at-bats and putting pressure on them every inning.”
Cholowsky provided one of the biggest swings of the night, launching a home run that shifted momentum and energized the dugout. Gasparino followed with a homer of his own as part of a multi-run surge that put UCLA firmly in command. The Bruins’ lineup showed depth throughout, consistently moving runners and delivering with two outs.
Tulane struck first with two early runs, taking advantage of a shaky start on the mound by UCLA. But the Bruins bullpen stabilized the game, limiting the Green Wave to five total runs and preventing any sustained rally. After the early damage, UCLA pitchers combined to keep Tulane’s hitters off balance with a mix of off-speed pitches and well-located fastballs.
“Our bullpen did a great job of locking it down after the first couple innings,” Savage said. “They attacked the zone and let our defense work.”
By the late innings, UCLA’s offense had fully taken over. The Bruins scored in all but one frame, showcasing patience at the plate and aggressive baserunning. Extra-base hits and productive outs allowed them to extend the lead, and they tacked on insurance runs to remove any doubt.
Gasparino finished with multiple RBIs, while Cholowsky’s home run highlighted a balanced offensive attack that featured contributions throughout the lineup. UCLA’s ability to answer Tulane’s early punch underscored why the Bruins entered the season ranked No. 1 nationally.
Tulane managed five runs but struggled to keep pace once UCLA began scoring in bunches. The Green Wave bullpen was unable to slow the Bruins’ momentum, particularly during the middle innings when UCLA’s lineup turned over and continued to apply pressure.
The win reinforced UCLA’s status as an early-season favorite and demonstrated the team’s depth both at the plate and on the mound. For Tulane, the midweek matchup provided a challenging test against one of the nation’s top programs.
UCLA will continue its homestand later this week, looking to build on a performance that combined offensive firepower with steady relief pitching.
