LOS ANGELES - LMU baseball returns home Tuesday to welcome the No. 1 ranked team in the nation for the first time in over a decade. The Lions play host to the top-ranked UCLA Bruins at Page Stadium in a matchup that figures to draw a capacity crowd. Gates open at 5:00 PM with first pitch scheduled for 6:00 PM.

UCLA enters Tuesday's contest as one of the most dominant teams in college baseball this season, carrying a 43-4 overall record and a perfect 24-0 mark in Big Ten play. The Bruins most recently edged Michigan State 13-11 on Sunday in a high-scoring affair, with Zach Strickland earning the win in relief to improve to 5-1 on the season. Closer Easton Hawk, one of the nation's premier relievers with a 1.74 ERA and 12 saves, locked down the final frame. The two programs are no strangers as they have met at least once a season going back to 2018, with the most recent meeting coming on March 24 in Westwood, a 6-2 UCLA victory. 

Offensively, the Bruins are a formidable lineup from top to bottom. First baseman Mulivai Levu leads the team hitting .347 with 14 home runs and 54 RBI, while shortstop Roch Cholowsky, who has been tabbed as the top pick in this June's MLB Draft, is batting .335 with 18 home runs and 55 RBI. Will Gasparino and Roman Martin each hit above .320, and the Bruins as a team are slashing .303 on the season with 77 home runs and 378 RBI in 47 games. 

On the mound, UCLA has been equally dominant, posting a collective 3.30 ERA against opponents who are hitting just .221 against the staff. Former West Coast Conference foe Logan Reddemann leads the rotation at 8-0 with a 2.87 ERA, and the bullpen has been airtight, with Hawk and Strickland combining for 13 wins and 13 saves on the year.

LMU comes in at 12-37 following a series sweep at the hands of Pacific over the weekend, but the Lions will have the advantage of playing at home in front of what figures to be their largest crowd of the season. The Lions have shown flashes of offensive life in recent weeks, including a three-run eighth inning rally in Sunday's series finale. Jaxson Wall leads the lineup hitting .299 with six home runs, while DJ Ghiorso has been one of the more consistent hitters on the roster at .296. Travis Friend hit his tenth homerun of the season in Sunday's contest.

A capacity crowd is expected at Page Stadium and advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended to avoid long lines at the ticketing tent. A limited number of tickets remain available. Click here to purchase now. General admission bench seating is limited, with an additional standing-room only overflow section located down the first-base line beyond the LMU dugout. LMU students with an active OneCard receive free admission, with seats held in the general seating area on a first-come, first-served basis. Faculty and staff receive complimentary admission along with one guest. 
 
Fans can also purchase prepaid parking in advance via this link. The nearest lot to Page Stadium is the Hannon Parking Lot - Lot A (campus parking map), with all visitors required to enter through the Lincoln Blvd. entrance. Overflow parking will be available in the Drollinger Parking Garage.
 
The evening will feature a ceremonial first pitch by Rampage, the official mascot of the Los Angeles Rams, and a special appearance by LMU's own Iggy. Special limited concession options will be available while supplies last, including tamales from Cinco and açaí bowls from Paradise Bowls, with fans also eligible to win gift cards and prizes throughout the game.
 
For those unable to attend Tuesday, the Lions close out their home schedule later this week with the final series of the season against St. Mary's from May 8-10. Tickets start at just $11 and group rates are available for parties of 10 or more. Click here to reserve your seats.