Even after a 5-0 loss in the Big Ten tournament championship Sunday, No. 15 seed UCLA baseball (42-16, 22-8 Big Ten) was selected to host its first NCAA tournament regional since 2019, as UC Irvine (41-15, 24-6 Big West), Arizona State (35-22, 18-12 Big 12) and Fresno State (31-27, 18-12 Mountain West) travel to Jackie Robinson Stadium. With the Bruins’ first national tournament run since 2022 beginning Friday, Daily Bruin Sports’ baseball beat takes a crack at predicting where the Bruins will be in two weeks.

Kai Dizon
Assistant Sports editor
Prediction: Make the Men’s College World Series

If getting shut out by the Big Ten tournament’s No. 8 seed doesn’t light a fire under the Bruins, they may not make it out of the Los Angeles Regional.

But I think it will.

Because this team has proved time and again that it can bounce back – it wouldn’t be hosting its first regional since 2019 otherwise.

Sunday was a perfect storm.

Sophomore right-hander Landon Stump had his worst start of the season – surrendering three runs in a 1.1-inning start.

Sophomore shortstop Roch Cholowsky – the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player – went 0-for-4 at the plate.

And the rest of the lineup tallied just four hits as Nebraska right-hander Ty Horn had a career day on the mound, tossing eight shutout innings.

UCLA has had most of the week to rest up at home and mull over how nearly everything that could go wrong went wrong.

I don’t see Cholowsky being a write-off at the plate again anytime soon. I don’t see a Bruin offense that has averaged 7.9 runs per game this season getting shut out again, either.

And yes, while the starting rotation has been unreliable all season, the backend of the bullpen’s recent ability to eat innings and close out games will continuously give the Bruins a shot in the tournament.

But even if things go sideways, UCLA is afforded one loss in the regional and another in the super regional without it spelling the end of its season.

There’s only one way for the Bruins to get back to Charles Schwab Field.

And like UCLA’s weight room at Jackie Robinson Stadium suggests, the “Road to Omaha” begins at home.

I don’t see why they won’t take it.

Noah Massey
Daily Bruin staff
Prediction: Eliminated in super regional

Big Ten baseball is not the same as SEC baseball.

And the Bruins haven’t played at an SEC school since 2023.

UCLA got its first taste of an SEC-like home crowd in the Big Ten championship, where it was defeated by Nebraska in front of 15,139 fans in what was essentially a home atmosphere at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska.

While coach John Savage said the Bruins were excited to play in front of the imposing crowd, the team struggled to replicate the offensive success it displayed earlier in the tournament, managing just a single extra-base hit against the Huskers.

Although UCLA will get to play its regional contests at home, its projected super regional opponent, No. 2 seed Texas, has averaged 7,113 fans per game this season – the sixth most in the SEC.

On the other hand, UCLA has struggled to fill Jackie Robinson Stadium’s 1,838 seats.

And while the Bruins played a majority of their games in front of sparse Southern California or Big Ten crowds, the Longhorns have played nearly every game in front of a large, intimidating fanbase.

UCLA’s youth and inexperience playing on the big stage could be what prevents it from its first Men’s College World Series since winning it in 2013.

Mika McCaffrey
Daily Bruin reporter
Prediction: Eliminated in super regional

After their runner-up finish at the Big Ten tournament, the Bruins will take their regional.

The Los Angeles Regional’s top-seeded Bruins will kick off their tournament run against the Bulldogs on Friday. While UCLA has yet to play Fresno State this season, there are some indications that UCLA can walk away with a win.

For one, the Bruins are currently 15th in RPI, while the Bulldogs sit at 102nd. Moreover, while Fresno State’s pitching staff holds a 5.21 ERA, UCLA’s is 0.67 runs better.

After a win Friday, UCLA could face off against familiar opponents Irvine and Arizona State. The Bruins went 1-1 against both teams in four total games but outscored the Anteaters 14-9 and the Sun Devils 8-6, suggesting UCLA may have the upper hand against either squad.

However, given the likelihood of facing the No. 2 seed Longhorns, the Bruins won’t make it past the super regional. While UCLA has had an impressive turnaround since last season – winning 23 more games thus far – its improvement may not be enough to triumph past a powerhouse like Texas, which is fourth in RPI with a 3.56 team ERA.

The Bruins have plenty to be proud about after a dismal 19-33 campaign in 2024, but they might still not have enough to make it back to Omaha.

Gabriela Garcia
Daily Bruin contributor
Prediction: Eliminated in super regional

A shutout loss in the Big Ten tournament championship is a setback.

But it’ll be the Bruins’ fuel.

Hosting its first NCAA tournament regional since 2019, UCLA’s comfort at home will lead it to a super regional against No. 2 seed Texas.

The Bruins have a plus-180 run differential this season, while the Bulldogs only have a plus-82. Additionally, UCLA’s .409 OBP trumps Fresno State’s .384. The Bruins should come away victorious to either face Irvine or Arizona State.

This season, both the Anteaters and Sun Devils visited Jackie Robinson Stadium – where UCLA is 26-7 – with the Bruins going 2-1. The Bruins’ pitching staff boasts the best ERA of the three at 4.54, with Irvine posting a 4.90 mark and Arizona State at 5.27. If UCLA’s pitchers can stay true to form, they’ll get through this weekend.

Although I expect the games to be close, the Bruins will ultimately fall to the Longhorns in the next round.

Jack Clarke
Daily Bruin contributor
Prediction: Eliminated in super regional

Following a season in which it recorded its most wins in six years, UCLA could already consider the 2025 campaign a success.

However, players and coaches alike know the real achievement is a national championship.

In their first appearance in the NCAA postseason since 2022, the Bruins will appear in their first super regional since 2019 but fall just short of the Men’s College World Series.

Returning to Jackie Robinson Stadium, a venue that accounts for 61.9% of UCLA’s total wins this season, will provide a dynamic advantage in the regional. Outside the benefit of playing in front of the Bruin faithful, comfort will play a major factor. The Los Angeles Regional features two teams UCLA has .500 winning percentages against this season, Irvine and Arizona State.

The key for UCLA’s offensive output will be continued timely contributions from sophomore shortstop and Big Ten Player of the Year Roch Cholowsky. In his four showdowns against the Anteaters and Sun Devils, Cholowsky went 4-for-11 and hit a fourth-inning grand slam – one of his 23 home runs on the season – in Feb. 25’s win over Arizona State.

But issues will arise once they make it past this weekend.

If UCLA faces Austin Regional favorite and No. 2 seed Texas, it’ll have to play the Longhorns – who drew the sixth-most fans in the country this season – in Austin, Texas. While the Bruins will be competitive in the super regional, I can see them falling one win short of their first Men’s College World Series in 12 years.