The No. 1 squad.

The No. 1-ranked player in the nation.

And number one of the season is officially in the books for him.

Junior shortstop Roch Cholowsky sent the first pitch he saw flying 388 feet deep to left-center field – his first home run of the season. The crowd erupted as the projected first overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft – who hit 23 home runs last season – trotted around the bases.

Cholowsky’s game-tying home run propelled No. 1 UCLA baseball’s (2-0) early comeback, defeating UC San Diego (0-2) 7-2 at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday.

“It feels good,” Cholowsky said.

But it wasn’t just the shortstop who recorded his first of the season.

Redshirt junior outfielder Payton Brennan and junior catcher Cashel Dugger also joined the home run parade in the bottom of the eighth inning. Brennan secured two hits and an RBI for his second multi-hit game of the season.

Junior outfielder Will Gasparino – a transfer from Texas – and freshman outfielder Trey Gudoy listed their first hit as Bruins.

Along with Gudoy, freshman right-hander Angel Cervantes made his collegiate debut and closed out the game for the Bruins.

“We have a full roster of guys that can contribute and guys that we have a lot of confidence in,” said coach John Savage.

Dugger – who only hit three home runs last season – went 3-for-4 in the game and was just a triple shy of a cycle. The Castle Pines, Colorado, local recorded two RBIs for the Bruins.

“It’s important to go out there, pitch-to-pitch, and compete no matter what,” Dugger said.

The Bruins started the game trailing the Tritons for the second consecutive day after first baseman Gabe Camacho launched a breaking ball from senior right-hander Michael Barnett over the outfield wall in the top of the first inning.

But Cholowsky’s homer and an RBI from freshman infielder Aiden Aguayo – the first of his collegiate career – erased the deficit and gave the Bruins a 2-1 lead in the second.

The Bruins’ starting pitcher found his groove soon after.

Barnett pitched a total of five innings, allowing just one run and one more hit in that duration. The Lafayette, California, local recorded the win – his 19th of his collegiate career – finishing his night by walking just two Tritons, while striking out four.

A defensive play from Dugger and junior third baseman Roman Martin also helped Barnett escape a jam in the second inning as the two picked off a runner at third base.

“It’s always difficult to come back as a senior because you have expectations,” Savage said. “But he’s got a really good attitude, and he’s worked extremely hard in the offseason.”

Sophomore right-hander Wylan Moss and junior right-hander Cal Randall combined for three innings, striking out three and allowing just one hit in relief.

Savage then made a call to the pen.

And there came one of Westwood’s newest pitchers.

Cervantes – a second-round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft – was called to close out the game.

Despite getting a quick groundout to start the inning, a routine double-play ball that was bobbled by Cholowsky and only allowed for the out at second base nearly shook up the freshman. He gave up two hits and a walk, allowing the Tritons to get on the board for the first time since the beginning of the match.

But the jitters finally settled when Brennan made a diving catch in right field to secure the last out of the game.

“I think it was really good for them to kind of get their feet wet,” Dugger said. “Just go out there and get a little taste of college baseball.”

The Bruins will go for a series sweep tomorrow at Jackie Robinson Stadium, with junior right-hander Landon Stump slated to make his 30th career start. The Morgan Hill, California, local posted a 5.02 ERA through 75.1 innings pitched in the 2025 season and racked up six wins.

“Take nothing into tomorrow,” Cholowsky said. “They’re going to come out there and try to win, and we’re going to do the same thing.”