UCLA Baseball Enters Big Ten Tournament With Serious Momentum
UCLA closed its regular season the right way, winning a series in Seattle for the first time since 2014 with a 6-1 victory over Washington. It was a fitting final chapter to one of the most accomplished regular seasons in program history.
The Bruins finished with 48 wins, a new program record surpassing the 2019 squad's mark of 47, went 28-2 in Big Ten play to set another program record for conference wins, and were the only team in the country to take at least two of three games in every weekend series. Now that the postseason begins, UCLA enters as the undisputed number one team in college baseball, with a record-breaking season serving as the foundation.
UCLA Throughout the Season
There is no question that UCLA has been the best team in college baseball this season, built on dominant pitching and a potent offensive attack.
On the mound, junior Logan Reddemann has been the anchor of the staff, finishing the regular season at 8-0 with a 2.87 ERA, 84 strikeouts, and just 11 walks. Reddemann has not been the only starter to shine. Sophomore Wylan Moss has had a breakout season after working primarily as a reliever during his freshman year, posting a 5-1 record while ranking second in the Big Ten in ERA at 2.38, second in hits allowed with 38, and fifth in opponent batting average.
The offense has matched the pitching staff's level of dominance throughout the year. MLB's consensus number one prospect, Roch Cholowsky, has been the centerpiece of the lineup, leading the conference with 21 home runs and hitting .330 on the season. Cholowsky has drawn comparisons to all-time great Derek Jeter for his leadership qualities and his ability to elevate those around him, and the results on the field have backed up the praise.
Junior Will Gasparino and junior Mulivai Levu have provided significant support in the middle of the order, with both players ranking in the top 10 in the Big Ten in home runs while maintaining batting averages above .300.
UCLA Heading Into the Big Ten Tournament
As the top seed in the Big Ten Tournament, UCLA enters with a five-game lead over second-seeded Nebraska and the luxury of a five-day break before taking the field. The Bruins will not play until May 22, giving the pitching staff additional time to rest and set up the rotation heading into the postseason.
The rest of the conference will begin tournament play earlier, with the first round getting underway on May 19. The fifth-seeded Purdue Boilermakers will open against the Michigan State Spartans in what figures to be a competitive early-round matchup.
While it is too early to know which opponent UCLA will face once tournament play begins, one thing is certain: the Bruins carry the largest target in college baseball on their backs. Every team remaining in the Big Ten Tournament will be motivated to knock off the number one team in the country, and UCLA will need to be sharp from the moment they step back on the field.
This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/ucla as UCLA Baseball Enters Big Ten Tournament With Serious Momentum.
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This story was originally published May 18, 2026 at 10:00 AM.