History in LA: Saint Mary’s Stuns No. 1 Overall Seed UCLA in Regional Opener

LOS ANGELES — The slipper fits perfectly, and the top-ranked team in college baseball is officially heading home early.

In a heart-stopping, extra-inning thriller on Sunday afternoon, the Saint Mary’s Gaels pulled off the unthinkable for the second time in three days. Playing as the home team in the elimination bracket, the Gaels sent the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed UCLA Bruins (52-8), packing with a dramatic 6–5 walk-off victory in the 10th inning at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

With the win, Saint Mary’s (36-26) advances to the regional final for the first time in program history, while making definitive college baseball history.

UCLA entered the tournament with a dominant 51-6 record, earning renown as the first team ever to go wire-to-wire as the consensus No. 1 seed in the regular season. However, after bowing out to Saint Mary’s in a 3-2 shocker on Friday and falling again on Sunday, they became the most stunning casualty of the 2026 regionals.

Bruins Punch Early, Gaels Chip Away

Determined to avenge Friday’s opening-round loss and keep their national championship dreams alive, UCLA wasted no time flexing their muscles. The Bruins jumped out to a commanding 3–0 lead by the second inning, fueled by a Roman Martin RBI single and a run-scoring double from Trey Gudoy.

Dean West extended the Bruins’ lead to 5–2 in the top of the fifth with a towering solo home run to right field, followed by a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch from Will Gasparino.

But the battle-tested West Coast Conference champions refused to blink, chipping away at the powerhouse deficit one swing at a time:

• The 3rd Inning: Ian Armstrong put the Gaels on the board with a solo home run dead center.
• The 5th Inning: Designated hitter Jacob Johnson answered West’s blast with a solo home run of his own to left.
• The 6th Inning: Diego Castellanos lined an RBI single up the middle, scoring Cody Kashimoto to pull the Gaels within one (5-4).

Ninth-Inning Heroics and the Walk-Off Hit

The game remained locked at 5–4 entering the bottom of the ninth. With the Bruins just three outs away from surviving, UCLA turned to their bullpen to close it out.

With two outs and the season on the line, Saint Mary’s star Tanner Griffith managed to get aboard with a base hit. He was moved to second on a sac bunt.  With two outs, up stepped Ian Armstrong. Facing a high-pressure count, Armstrong delivered a legendary moment, ripping a clutch RBI single through the right side. Griffith rounded third and tied the game at 5–5, sending the Saint Mary’s dugout into absolute pandemonium and forcing extra innings.

After reliever David Roberts ($2–1$) sat the Bruins down in order in the top of the 10th, the stage was set for the final blow.

Cody Kashimoto got an infield single to open the bottom of the frame and advanced to second base. With the winning run in scoring position, Makoa Sniffen stepped up to face UCLA’s Easton Hawk (7-4). Sniffen took a 1-1 offering and smashed a sharp single through the left side of the infield. Kashimoto flew around third base and slid safely across home plate ahead of the throw.

The stadium fell completely silent, save for the ecstatic Gaels who stormed the field to dog-pile on the infield.

UCLA vs. Saint Mary’s Box Score (May 31, 2026)

WP: David Roberts ($2–1$) | LP: Easton Hawk ($7–4$)

HRs: UCLA: Dean West | SMC: Ian Armstrong, Jacob Johnson

Attendance: 1,680 | Weather: 75°C, Clear

What’s Next

For Coach John Savage and the Bruins, a historic, 52-win season ends in heartbreak and an unimaginably early exit on their home turf.

For the Saint Mary’s Gaels, the magical postseason ride continues. They have completely altered the landscape of the bracket and immediately turn around to face Cal Poly in the Regional Final, needing two wins to advance to the Super Regionals.