No. 1 UCLA baseball escapes the Hornets with shocking walk-off finish

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No. 1 UCLA baseball narrowly escaped the Hornets with a 6-5 win in the season opener against Sacramento State at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Friday thanks to Sacramento State errors leading to a shocking walk-off.

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UCLA was an out away, even a strike away, from a loss before absolute chaos broke loose, the Hornets defense imploded on itself, allowing the Bruins to score the tying and go-ahead runs in very dramatic fashion.

The Hornets batters got the better of UCLA's pitching staff, led by sophomore right-handed pitcher Wylan Moss, but the Bruins were able to weather the storm down the final stretch. Meanwhile, UCLA's batters faced senior right-handed pitcher and semifinalist for the College Baseball Foundations Pitcher of the Year award Ethan Lay and came out on top.

Running away in the second

Sacramento State scored first off of a sacrifice fly in the top of the second, but the Bruins batters responded. UCLA had two runners on base in the bottom of the second and got both of them home off of a go-ahead single to left field from Trey Gudoy. The Bruins also got their third runner across home plate off of another sacrificial fly out to put them up 3-1.

Keeping it close

After a scoreless third, the Hornets buzzed their way back onto the scoreboard with a homer to open up the top of the fourth. This time, UCLA didn't have an answer for them in the bottom of the inning and Sacramento State cut the Bruins lead to one run.

Momentum shift

The Hornets took the lead in the top of the fifth with two runs coming off of a double to right center put Sacramento State in the driver's seat, as UCLA was unable to get on base in the bottom of the fifth.

Race to the finish

Sacramento State continued their offensive onslaught with momentum on their side another runner crossing home plate in the top of the sixth to put them ahead by two. UCLA cut their lead to one in the bottom of the eighth with a homer by junior first baseman Mulivai Levu to set the ninth inning up for a thrilling finish.

When it matters most

UCLA's pitching staff held the Hornets scoreless in the top of the ninth, which gave them a chance to steal the game away. However, two grounded outs by the Bruins put them in danger of coming up short.

Junior shortstop Roch Cholowsky and Levu were both walked and junior infielder Roman Martin stepped up to bat. Martin made contact and got himself to first base, but that wasn't the end of it. A fielding error by the Hornets allowed both Levu and Cholowsky to cross home plate in dramatic fashion for the 6-5 win.

UCLA will attempt to hold off the Hornets in their second game of the series on Saturday with an anticipated start time of 2 p.m. PT.

This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: No. 1 UCLA baseball walks-off Sacramento State in 6-5 Friday

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