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

Bruins score 7 runs in 8th inning to rout Trojans in highly anticipated college baseball matchup.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 8:52am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the dynamic action and competitive energy of a college baseball game, with players, bats, balls, and the stadium rendered in a cubist style using bold, overlapping shapes and vibrant colors.A cubist interpretation of the intense rivalry and high-stakes matchup between the top-ranked UCLA Bruins and 12th-ranked USC Trojans in a pivotal college baseball showdown.Los Angeles Today

In a highly anticipated college baseball showdown between No. 1 UCLA and No. 12 USC, the Bruins pulled away with a 7-run 8th inning to win 12-4 at Jackie Robinson Stadium. The game was tight through 7 innings, with both teams' star pitchers battling and trading home runs. But UCLA broke the game open in the 8th, loading the bases and then delivering a series of timely hits to blow the game open.

Why it matters

This matchup between the crosstown rivals is one of the most anticipated college baseball series of the season, drawing a sellout crowd and secondary market ticket prices over $100. The win keeps UCLA atop the rankings, while the loss drops USC to 27-4 on the year.

The details

UCLA sent 12 batters to the plate in the 8th inning, scoring 7 runs on a 2-run single, an infield single, and a 2-run single. The inning also featured a dropped popup, a misplayed ball in center, and wild pitches. Both starting pitchers, UCLA's Logan Reddemann and USC's Mason Edwards, gave up home runs but pitched well overall before the UCLA offense broke through late.

  • The game was played on Friday, April 4, 2026.
  • The 7-run 8th inning outburst by UCLA came in the bottom of the 8th.

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.

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What they’re saying

“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 3-game series on Saturday and Sunday.

The takeaway

This rivalry matchup between the top-ranked Bruins and 12th-ranked Trojans lived up to the hype, with the game tight through 7 innings before UCLA broke it open late. The win keeps UCLA atop the rankings, while the loss drops USC to 27-4 on the season.