No. 1 UCLA Baseball Pulls Away From No. 12 USC in Highly Anticipated Showdown

Bruins score 7 runs in the 8th inning to turn a tight game into a rout over the Trojans.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 6:07am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting breaking down a college baseball game into overlapping planes of players, bats, balls, and the stadium, conceptually representing the high-intensity rivalry and competition between the two teams.A fractured, cubist depiction of the intense rivalry and high-stakes action of a showdown between UCLA and USC's top-ranked baseball programs.Los Angeles Today

In a highly anticipated college baseball matchup between No. 1 UCLA and No. 12 USC, the Bruins pulled away late to win 12-4 at Jackie Robinson Stadium. The game was tight through seven innings before UCLA exploded for 7 runs in the 8th to turn the contest into a rout. Both teams' star pitchers, UCLA's Logan Reddemann and USC's Mason Edwards, had strong outings, but the Bruins' offense proved too much in the end.

Why it matters

This game was a major rivalry showdown between the top two college baseball programs in Southern California, drawing a sold-out crowd and significant interest across the region. The win keeps UCLA atop the national rankings and sets up an intriguing remainder of the three-game series.

The details

UCLA and USC were locked in a tight 5-4 game heading into the bottom of the 8th inning. That's when the Bruins sent 12 batters to the plate, scoring 7 runs on a series of hits, walks, and Trojans miscues to blow the game open. UCLA got key hits from Mulvai Levu, Roman Martin, and Payton Brennan in the big inning. Both starting pitchers, UCLA's Logan Reddemann and USC's Mason Edwards, had strong outings before the Bruins' late offensive explosion.

  • The game was played on Friday, April 3, 2026.
  • The big 7-run 8th inning for UCLA happened on Friday night.

The players

John Savage

The head coach of the UCLA baseball team.

Andy Stankiewicz

The head coach of the USC baseball team.

Logan Reddemann

The starting pitcher for UCLA, one of the top pitchers in the nation.

Mason Edwards

The starting pitcher for USC, considered the best pitcher in college baseball so far this season.

Will Gasparino

A UCLA player who had 3 hits in the game.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It was one of those weird innings”

— John Savage, UCLA head coach

“It's a cruddy way to end it. We were right there and it went sideways fast.”

— Andy Stankiewicz, USC head coach

“At the end of the day, it was a very tight game that doesn't look like a tight game.”

— John Savage, UCLA head coach

What’s next

The two teams will play the second and third games of their three-game series on Saturday and Sunday at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

The takeaway

This high-profile matchup between the top two college baseball programs in Southern California lived up to the hype, with the game remaining close until UCLA broke it open late. The win keeps the Bruins atop the national rankings and sets the stage for an intriguing remainder of the series.