In 2025, the UCLA Bruins baseball team has assembled a formidable and consistent squad for their inaugural season in the Big Ten Conference. With a solid record and impressive national ranking, the team owes much of its success to head coach John Savage, now in his 21st season.
UCLA boasts an impressive record of 37 victories against 14 defeats. The team has excelled in the challenging Big Ten Conference, boasting 20 wins and seven losses. They are positioned squarely near the top of the conference standings, trailing Iowa by just two games for the top spot. In the latter half of the season, the team has found itself positioned between No. 10 and No. 15 in various polls, solidifying its status as one of the top teams in the nation.
The Bruins' recent three-game road sweep at Illinois is one of the season's highlights thus far. The wins followed their three-game losing streak. Payton Brennan, a redshirt sophomore playing center field, made a memorable impact with a game-winning delayed steal of home earlier this season. In contrast, sophomore Phoenix Call shone brightly with an impressive performance, hitting two home runs and driving in four RBIs in a recent stretch of games. Among the key pitchers making an impact are sophomore right-hander Justin Lee and freshman right-hander Easton Hawk. Hawk has accumulated an impressive number of saves. The junior left-hander Ian May and fellow junior Michael Barnett have played crucial roles in the starting lineup.
The victories against Penn State, San Diego, Pepperdine, Purdue, Indiana, Nebraska, UC Irvine, Maryland, BYU, and Cal Poly were pivotal moments throughout the season. Competing against teams like Oregon, Vanderbilt, and USC was challenging for them. A memorable clash unfolded during the 14-inning showdown against the University of San Diego.
The Bruins are gearing up for their final regular-season showdown on May 15 at Jackie Robinson Stadium, where they'll face off against Northwestern. Chances are high that they'll be making an appearance in the NCAA Tournament this year. The event marks their first return to that game since 2022.
When UCLA baseball made its move to the Big Ten in 2025, it marked the beginning of significant transformations. Up to this point, they have demonstrated their ability to compete at an elite level.
Here is an overview of the UCLA baseball team heading into their final regular season scheduled series with Northwestern.
Overall Season Record: 37-14 Big Ten Record: 20-7
National Rankings: ESPN.com/Baseball Collegiate Top 25: #14, NCAA.com RPI: #10, USA Today Coaches Poll: #15, Baseball America: #10, D1Baseball Top 25: #14
Top tier wins this season: @ USC (7-6), Cal Poly (18-2), @ Illinois (9-1), BYU (15-4), Penn State (9-1), Cal Poly (16-0), @ Oregon (14-4), Arizona State (8-4), USC (5-1), Michigan (22-5), UC Irvine (11-4), Indiana (6-3), Washington (13-9), Penn State (6-3), and UConn (8-6).
Losses this season: Oregon State (1-7), Arizona State (0-2), @ USC (5-7), @ Long Beach State (2-4), @ Oregon (1-2), Vanderbilt (3-8), @ Maryland (3-13), @ USC (5-11), UC Irvine (3-5), @ Oregon (6-10), and Indiana (1-5).
Record over their last 10 games: 7-3
Current winning streak: Three consecutive wins
Strength of Schedule: 17
Quadrant One record: 3-7
Quadrant Two record: 14-2
Home field record: 24-6
True Road record: 11-8
Neutral field record: 2-0
Big Ten record: 20-7