Fourth-seeded Saint Mary's College eliminated top-seeded UCLA from the NCAA Tournament on Sunday with a 6-5 extra-inning victory in the Los Angeles Regional at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
Makoa Sniffen drove in the winning run with a two-out single in the bottom of the 10th inning, capping a comeback after UCLA had led 3-0 and 5-2.
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The defeat makes the Bruins, who finished 52-8, just the fifth top overall seed in tournament history to be eliminated in the Regional round.
UCLA held a 5-4 lead in the ninth inning before Saint Mary's tied the game off closer Easton Hawk.
The Bruins built their early advantage on run-scoring hits from Roman Martin and Trey Gudoy, supported by a pitching performance from Angel Cervantes, but stranded 10 baserunners overall.
“Obviously this weekend, we did not play up to our standards,” said UCLA coach John Savage.
“Really felt it was a struggle for whatever reason — all three games, really.”
Savage used reliever Cal Randall to start the ninth inning before turning to Hawk after a single by Tanner Griffith.
Ian Armstrong then delivered a game-tying single past a shifted infield.
“A little Baltimore chopper,” Savage said. “A good pitch — unfortunate.”
In the 10th, Cody Kashimoto reached on an infield single and advanced on a groundout and an intentional walk, setting up Sniffen's game-winning hit.
Savage noted that the inability to secure late-inning insurance runs placed an immense burden on the bullpen.
