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UCLA takes down UTSA, dogpiles after advancing to College World Series

Chandler Vesselsby: Chandler Vessels06/08/25ChandlerVessels
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Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

For the first time in more than a decade, UCLA earned the right to celebrate with a dogpile Sunday as it punched its ticket to the College World Series. The Bruins defeated UTSA by a score of 7-0 to reach Omaha for the first time since 2013.

The final out occurred on a pop fly as UCLA fielded it easily. The Bruins then rushed toward the mound as the dugout cleared as well to celebrate the win.

Things were scoreless for the first three innings before the Bruins broke through in the fourth with an RBI single from Toussaint Bythewood. Another RBI single from Roch Cholowsky in the fifth made it a 2-0 advantage.

UCLA coasted from there on the backs of its defense. Chris Grothues earned the victory at pitcher with two strikeouts and no hits allowed in 2.2 innings of work. Payton Brennan led the team with three hits and two RBI.

The Bruins added five runs in the eighth and ninth innings combined to add to their lead as the defense continued its scoreless run. That included a big two-RBI single in the ninth from Brennan that started the scoring for that inning. It was just one of many big plays on the day for the redshirt sophomore.

Umpire Eric Goshay was hit on the chin with a foul ball off the bat of Cholowsky in the seventh inning and left the field in the eighth. Second base umpire Travis Carlson moved behind the plate to accommodate for a three-man officiating crew.

The victory was the second in as many days for the Bruins against the Roadrunners. UCLA also defeated UTSA by a score of 5-2 on Saturday to take the lead in the Super Regional series.

With its win, UCLA advances to the College World Series for the first time since 2013. It also won the championship that year and will aim to do the same this time around.

UTSA, on the other hand, will end its season with a 47-15 overall record. This was still a memorable season for the Roadrunners as it was their first in program history.

The Bruins now move on to chase another title as they are one of the first teams to clinch their spot in Omaha along with Louisville. The College World Series is set to begin Friday, June 13, so UCLA will await to find out their first game once the full bracket is revealed.