It’s almost every young ballplayer’s dream to go pro.

But when Phoenix Call heard his name called by the Boston Red Sox in the 15th round of the 2023 MLB Draft, he didn’t sign, instead upholding his commitment to the Bruins.

And Saturday, the sophomore second baseman launched his first collegiate home run – a game-winning three-run shot to left in the sixth inning of No. 14 UCLA baseball’s (25-5, 10-2 Big Ten) 7-6 win over San Diego (6-24, 3-3 WCC) at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

Call, who’s started 25 of UCLA’s 30 games this season, was mired in a 9-for-48 slump after going 0-for-4 on March 23 and had committed five errors in as many games between March 15 and March 23. However, since missing starts on March 25 and March 28, the sophomore is 5-for-15 with two doubles in addition to his Saturday homer while not committing a single error.

“It (the time off) did maybe reset some things,” said coach John Savage. “He saw the game from a little different perspective – slowed his heart rate down a little bit, got his pulse where he needs to be. And he’s been good.”

But Call was far from the only batter to leave the ballpark Saturday.

Redshirt senior right fielder AJ Salgado launched a solo shot to break a 3-3 tie in the sixth, recording his second homer in as many days and sixth in his last 11 games.

“I’m just trying to look for good pitches to hit,” Salgado said. “Honestly, I’m not trying to do too much, I’m just trying to look for pitches that I can drive.”

Toreros shortstop Isaiah Lane, center fielder Austin Smith – who started Friday’s game on the mound – and right fielder Rex Watson all went deep.

Both Lane’s and Smith’s long balls were the first hits against junior right-hander Michael Barnett – who started Saturday for UCLA – all season.

After allowing five runs over just two innings against Purdue on March 29, Barnett tossed five innings of three-run ball Saturday.

“He got back at it a little bit,” Savage said. “I don’t know if I’d call it a quality start today, but he gave us what we needed.”

Sophomore right-hander Cal Randall picked up his first collegiate win, while freshman right-hander Easton Hawk struck out the side after conceding the two-run shot from Watson.

“I like Randall,” Savage said. “He was good. Came in throwing strikes, got Barnett out of trouble in the sixth. I really liked Hawk.”

Junior right-hander Jack O’Connor pitched around a hit and two plunked batters in a scoreless eighth, and sophomore right-hander Justin Lee secured his fifth save of the season by the skin of his teeth in the ninth.

Having already surrendered a run in the inning, Lee had the tying run on second and go-ahead run on first before inducing a game-ending 5-4-3 double play to shut the door on San Diego.

“It’s tight rope pitching with him, but I have faith in J-Lee,” Savage said. “He’s our guy – right now, we’re going to stick with him.”

Saturday was UCLA’s 13th comeback win this season, with San Diego blowing a pair of two-run leads. And at nine wins in a row, the Bruins have their longest winning streak since the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign and have won their eighth-straight weekend series.

The Bruins haven’t lost in any of sophomore right-hander Landon Stump’s seven starts this season, and if they can win when he takes the mound Sunday, they’d tie the 2010 Bruins for the best 31-game start to a season since at least 1966.

And while Call probably wouldn’t mind hearing his name called in the 2026 MLB Draft – the earliest he’s next eligible – for now, he’s committed to being a Bruin.

“The coaching staff and the opportunity to win a national championship,” Call said. “I’m happy with my decision.”