Oregon Ducks Baseball Falls to UCLA Bruins After Dramatic Comeback

Coming off a marquee game two win against the No. 1 ranked UCLA Bruins, the Oregon Ducks lost game three to the Bruins on Sunday.

Oregon outfielder Angel Laya, center, and Oregon infielder Naulivou Lauaki Jr., left, celebrate a home run by Laya as the Oregon Ducks host the Oregon State Beavers on March 3, 2026, at PK Park in Eugene, Oregon. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The No. 13 Oregon Ducks Baseball found themselves unable to respond in the last three innings as the No. 1 UCLA Bruins came back with an eight run streak starting in the sixth inning to close out the series with the Bruins on top, 2-1 after a decisive 9-6 victory.

The Ducks started on a hot streak with career-best pitching from Miles Gosztola, who punched in nine kills with five hits and two runs throughout 5.1 innings and 21 batters faced. In the top of the fourth inning, Maddox Molony, Gabe Miranda, and Naulivou Lauaki Jr. all acored runs with the later being off a Brayden Jaksa homer.

However, being 6-1 exiting the fourth inning wasn't enough to stop the Bruins, who benefitted from seven pitching rotations and Dean West hitting a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth to send all bases and himself for a house call.

Oregon pitcher Tanner Bradley, right, celebrates getting the Ducks out of the seventh inning against Indiana at PK Park in Eugene March 13, 2026. | Chris Pietsch/The Register Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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FINAL: OREGON 6, UCLA 9

TOP OF THE EIGHTH : OREGON 6 - UCLA 9

- Hawk strikes out smith swinging and gets the out at first base to put the Ducks away after a major comeback.

- UCLA brings in their closing pitcher, Hawk, to take on the Ducks. He was the same pitcher to close out the Ducks during yesterday's victory for Oregon.

BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH : OREGON 6 - UCLA 9

- Dean West hits a grand slam for a four run scores. This is five runs scored in the inning for UCLA, melting Oregon's long-held lead.

- UCLA challenges a pitch that hit their batter and the call being the batter leaned in. It's called in favor for UCLA as he was declared to not have leaned into the ball. He walks to first base. Loading the bases with two outs.

- Tanner Bradley steps in for the Ducks.

- Espinoza singles on an RBI and Brennan scores. Dugger goes to second. The Bruins are creeping up on Oregon for a late surge. Oregon gathers to bring in a new pitcher.

- Dugger singles with Brennan advancing to the third. Espinoza steps in as a pinch hitter.

- Brennan reached on a fielding error, getting an out. After, Gasparino strikes out for the third time today.

- Off three unanswered UCLA runs, the Bruins hope to creep up on the Ducks' two run lead but Martin is grounded out to third base.

TOP OF THE EIGHTH : OREGON 6 - UCLA 4

- Gabe Miranda gets a single to first base, but Lauaki strikes out swinging, Brooks flies out, and Cooney on a pop up easy out.

BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH : OREGON 6 - UCLA 4

- Inning ends with Cholowsky and Levu going out on a double play.

- Cholowsky singles to left field as West advanced to second and Call scores.

- Runners on first and third as Cholowsky comes to bat.

- Hocking ground out to second base, with Gudoy pinch hitting for Aguayo. He ended up being walked with Gudoy being called for a pinch runner.

TOP OF THE SEVENTH : OREGON 6 - UCLA 3

- Molony is flied out. Interesting to note that UCLA has utilized five different pitchers against the Ducks. With Cal Randall hitting his first inning as a three-two-one.

- Laya struck out swinging.

- Smith is flied out.

BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH : OREGON 6 - UCLA 2

- UCLA's Gasparino doubles down and Brennan scores on a fielding error that is unearned.

- Luke Morgan comes to the plate to relieve Gosztola. Gosztola ends the day allowing two runs, punches in 9 kills after facing 21 batters.

- UCLA's Levu grounds out.

- UCLA's Cholowsky homers to the left center for and RBI.

TOP OF THE SIXTH : OREGON 6 - UCLA 1

- A ground out from Mabeus puts the Ducks in the dugout.

- Jaksa singled through the right side as Brooks (who was previously walked) advances to second.

BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH : OREGON 6 - UCLA 1

- Hocking and Aguayo flies out while West strikes out looking. Gosztola advances to 9 strikeouts on the day.

TOP OF THE FIFTH : OREGON 6- UCLA 1

- Miranda, Molony, both grounded out while Laya struck out looking.

BOTTOM OF THE FOURTH : OREGON 6 - UCLA 1

- Gosztola racked up eight strike outs with a three and out against the Bruins.

TOP OF THE FOURTH : OREGON 6 - UCLA 1

- Jaksa homers to centerfield for a 3 RBI with Brooks and Lauaki

- UCLA's West prevents a grand slam from Ryan Cooney as UCLA switches pitchers.

- The Ducks take the lead with a Brooks single to second field. Lauaki advanced to second while Gabe Miranda scored unearned.

BOTTOM OF THE THIRD : OREGON 1 - UCLA 1

- The Ducks and Bruins continue to be tied as the Bruins head to the dugout with West only advancing to second base.

TOP OF THE THIRD : OREGON 1 - UCLA 1

- Laya is grounded out to get the Bruins out of the inning. Oregon has 4 hits to UCLA's 3.

- Smith ties up the game with a single and run from Ryan Cooney. Maebus advances to third. UCLA goes to the bullpen.

- Drew Smith comes to bat with two on, two out.

- UCLA takes a mound visit.

- Ryan Cooney is walked and Jack Brooks strikes out swinging. Oregon has one man (Cooney) on first as Jaksa goes to bat.

BOTTOM OF THE SECOND : OREGON 0 - UCLA 1

- Bruins' Aguayo struck out looking.

- Maddox Molony goes parallel with the ground to catch a UCLA hit and get the ball to first base, pinching Oregon's second out.

TOP OF THE SECOND : OREGON 0 - UCLA 1

- Naulivou Lauaki struck out swinging, ending the inning.

- Angel Laya singles to the left side, eventually advancing to third after a Maddox Molony foul out and a Gabe Miranda single to the right.

BOTTOM OF THE FIRST : OREGON 0 - UCLA 1

- Gosztola strikes out Will Gasparino looking, finishing out the inning with the Bruins on top and knocking on the door.

- UCLA's Brennan singles to left center as Martin advances to third base with UCLA seeming confident for another run.

- UCLA SCORES off a Roman Martin single with West running into home.

- UCLA's Dean West advances to third as Gosztola flies out UCLA's Levu.

- Miles Gosztola gets his first out with a batter swinging, but UCLA's Dean West steals second.

TOP OF THE FIRST : OREGON 0 - UCLA 0

- A double play catches Jaksa and Burke-Lee Maebus to close out the first at-bat try for the Ducks.

- Ten pitches in, Brayden Jaksa gets a single to sit on first base.

PREGAME

Starting Lineups

OREGON

1. 2B Ryan Cooney
2. LF Brayden Jaksa
3. C Burke-Lee Mabeus
4. 3B Drew Smith
5. RF Angel Laya
6. SS Maddox Molony
7. 1B Gabe Miranda
8. DH Naulivou Lauaki Jr.
9. CF Jack Brooks

UCLA

1. LF Dean West
2. SS Roch Cholowsky
3. 1B Mulivai Levu
4. 3B Roman Martin
5. RF Payton Brennan
6. CF Will Gasparino
7. C Cashel Dugger
8. DH Dominic Cadiz
9. 2B Aiden Aguayo

The Lead-up

On Friday, the Ducks took an 11-1 loss on the chin with the mercy rule getting them off the grass. The Ducks only clocked in three hits against the Bruins.

Then, on Saturday, Oregon punched in their biggest win of the season with an eighth-inning breakaway off a Jack Brooks three-run double that put the Ducks in a final score of 9-6. The Ducks' victory shattered UCLA's 27-game winning streak in conference play.

Oregon head coach Mark Wasikowski looks on as the Oregon Ducks host the Youngstown State Penguins on Feb. 19, 2026, at PK Park in Eugene, Oregon. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Mark Wasikowski Brings Heat Prior to Game Two

After Oregon's shutdown on Friday, coach Mark Wasikowski gave an impassioned speech post game, stressing that his athletes not dismiss the loss as a top team getting an expected win against a No. 13 ranked squad, but as an invitation to cause an upset no team has been able to do all season.

"What I told them is, ‘Think about this one', This one should hurt. It shouldn’t just be a put-your-cleats-in-the-bag-and-get-on-to-the-next-one kind of thing. You should process this one. You should rehearse it in your brain so by the time you go to bed tonight, then you can get it out of your system and you can show up tomorrow and have some competitiveness," Wasikowski said.

That fiery speech seemed to work it's magic, as the Ducks fought back early with the Bruins on top after the first inning on Saturday. At the top of the second, Gabe Miranda brought home Angel Laya with an RBI, then Naulivou Lauakigot the Ducks to a tie with a 3 run blast off the batter's eye in center.

"Our team doesn't quit. That is the kind of stuff we pride ourselves on. Our standard is we don't ever quit. We are going to keep going until the last out is made. I'd say we didn't quit. We went through the whole game and it was a great win for us. Just awesome," Jack Brooks said postgame.

Teammates congratulate Oregon pitcher Will Sanford, center, after he got the Ducks out of the second inning against Indiana at PK Park in Eugene March 13, 2026. | Chris Pietsch/The Register Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

On the Mound

With eyes on the pitchers mound, Oregon will go with former midweek starter and Gonzaga transfer Miles Gosztola to start against the Bruins. Gosztola sits at a 2-3, 3.98 ERA and has only allowed two runs and struck out four athletes at a little over four and a half innings against the Washington Huskies this season.

"Regardless of opponent, we're going into both of these series looking to get three wins. I mean, it's a great opportunity we have ahead of us going to Westwood. we're really looking forward to it," Gosztola said in a pre-series media availability.

The Stakes

For the Ducks, this resume win could help their case of hosting a regional in the postseason, giving significant advantage for the much-desired College World Series appearance. Furthermore, beating the No. 1 ranked team in the nation and in their conference would position Oregon as a favorite for the Big Ten conference title.

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