After losing twice in a three-game series against California Polytechnic State University and San Luis Obispo, the UC Santa Barbara baseball team took a break from Big West competition and traveled to Los Angeles to take on the UC Los Angeles Bruins. The game was a back-and-forth affair, but the Bruins got the last laugh as they squeaked by in extra innings via walkoff. In the loss, UCSB was led offensively by junior designated hitter Aaron Parker and his 4 RBIs. After the game, the Gaucho’s record is 13-8.

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The Bruins were able to score first after a scoreless first inning for UCSB. With two outs, the Bruins were able to hit a two-run home run to make the score 2-0. However, UCSB got the offense going immediately after they faced a deficit. In the top of the second inning, the Gauchos were able to retake the lead.

In the second, the Gaucho bats came alive. After junior catcher Brendan Durfee and junior third baseman Justin Trimble got on base, junior left fielder Jessada Brown blasted a three-run homerun into the stands. With the UCLA pitcher struggling, the Gauchos offense kept up the pace. Shortly after the run, junior right fielder Ivan Brethowr hit an RBI single to extend the UCSB lead to 4-2. After the fourth run in the inning, UCLA replaced their starting pitcher. Unfortunately for the Gauchos, the Bruins were able to score two runs of their own to tie the game in the bottom of the inning. In the top of the third, Trimble was able to retake the lead for his team with a sacrifice ground ball. 

In the fourth, the Gauchos were able to extend their lead by one. UCLA was struggling to score due to the success of freshman pitcher Jackson Flora. However, the Gauchos were able to continue their pace as they added two more runs to score their seventh of the game. At the end of the fourth, UCSB was up 7-5.

In the fifth inning, the Gaucho defense began showing holes. Flora was pulled from the game as the Bruins were able to score enough runs to tie the score. However, thanks to a great diving defensive play from senior second baseman Nick Oakley, UCLA was not able to take the lead at that moment. After the great catch, Oakley made a phenomenal throw to home plate to get a runner out and end the inning. 

The game stayed tied until the bottom of the seventh inning when UCLA hit a two-run homer to take a 10-8 lead late in the game. Neither team scored in the eighth, so the Gauchos had one inning left to take the game into extras. After multiple runners got on base to start the ninth, Parker hit a clutch RBI double to tie the game. In a shocking turn of events, the Gauchos took the lead from an RBI triple courtesy of junior first baseman Zander Darby. With a half-inning remaining, UCSB was up 11-10. 

Instead of ending the game, the UCSB defense was responsible for extending it. Late in the frame, the Gauchos closer hit the batter with a pitch while the bases were loaded. With this gaffe, UCLA was able to tie the game once again. The match was headed to extra innings. 

Both teams were scoreless in the tenth inning. However, this trend did not last long. Thanks to another RBI from Darby, UCSB took a 12-11 lead in the top of the eleventh inning. UCLA was able to score right after to extend the game even further. The Gauchos had no more offense remaining as they went scoreless in the top of the thirteenth. With the game tied in the bottom of the inning, UCLA scored just one run to walk off the Gauchos. The Bruins celebrated at home plate as they scored their thirteenth and final run.

For their next game, UCSB will travel back to Santa Barbara on March 28 to take on San Jose State University. The game will be the first match in a three-game series. The first pitch is scheduled for 4:35 p.m. but weather may force the game to be delayed. Every game of the series will be available to stream on ESPN+.