This post was updated May 2 at 5:21 p.m.

Midweek baseball basked in the sun and breeze at Eddy D. Field Stadium, with views of the Pacific Ocean beyond the left-field wall.

The picture-perfect setting starkly contrasted the two teams on the field, who had lost 28 games each heading into Tuesday.

But with a double-digit losing streak on the line, for one game, the visitors looked like the team that long ago earned a spot in the preseason top-25.

After losing its last nine contests, UCLA baseball (14-28, 6-18 Pac-12) routed Pepperdine (12-29, 6-9 WCC) in a 16-2 victory. Freshman first baseman Mulivai Levu singlehandedly drove in seven runs, homering in each of the first two innings and adding a two-RBI single in the third.

“I thought we put a pretty complete game together today,” said coach John Savage. “That was good to, obviously, break that streak and get some positives around the club.”

The Waves’ right-hander Jordan Cole started his day on rocky footing, with a four-pitch walk to junior shortstop Cody Schrier. Three batters later, his defense didn’t do him any favors.

With runners on the corners, an errant throw to second on an attempted double play allowed Schrier to score and junior designated hitter Jack Holman to make it to third base.

Then, Levu struck for his first three RBIs.

The Huntington Beach, California, local launched one over the fence in right-center field, pushing UCLA’s lead to four. Three consecutive singles followed – the third of the RBI variety – before a sacrifice fly in Schrier’s second at-bat of the frame capped off the scoring at six.

Freshman right-hander Luke Rodriguez – who had a six-run lead before throwing a single pitch – said the advantage provided some cushion as a pitcher.

“You just feel confident in what you do, that you can make mistakes but still come back,” Rodriguez said.

Compared to the first inning, the Bruins’ second inning efforts were meager – tallying just two runs on Levu’s second longball, this time an opposite-field shot into left-center.

UCLA then split the difference between its first and second frame tallies in the third.

Junior second baseman Duce Gourson scored on a wild pitch for the Bruins’ ninth run of the day, before Levu came to the plate with the bases loaded. He didn’t strike his third homer, but a two-run single to right – with freshman third baseman Roch Cholowsky scoring from first on a throwing error – cleared the bases and gave UCLA an even dozen.

“You hit a ball that way (to right) and you hit a ball that way (to left), that’s pretty impressive for a young guy, so really fun to watch,” Savage said. “Then he hits a bases-loaded single, knocks in a couple runs, so, really good day for Vai (Levu).”

Cholowsky was one of three to hit home runs in the back half of the game, with freshman catcher Blake Balsz and Schrier joining the onslaught, while four pitchers combined to keep the Waves at bay.

Rodriguez made his best start of the season Tuesday, tossing a career-high five innings while giving up just one hit and striking out three.

“Luke had a great day. Came out and shoved, he wasn’t pitching lazy or anything,” Levu said. “He looked like he was ready to come out and perform.”

As the shadows grew longer, Pepperdine scored two runs in the ninth. But the garbage-time RBIs were irrelevant.

The sun had fully set on the Waves long beforehand.