Arkansas baseball vs UCLA highlights: Razorbacks win College World Series elimination game
One day after watching Gage Wood toss only the third no-hitter in College World Series history, Arkansas gave up several hits — six, to be exact, along with three runs after a sloppy ninth inning against UCLA.
Though the Razorbacks weren’t quite perfect, they were awfully effective. And because of that, their national championship dreams live on for at least another day.
Golden Spikes finalist Wehiwa Aloy drove in three runs and Arkansas’ pitchers carried a shutout into the ninth inning to propel the No. 3 Razorbacks to a 7-3 victory against the No. 15 Bruins on June 17 in an elimination game at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska.
Watch Arkansas vs. UCLA baseball live with Fubo (free trial)
With the win, Arkansas advances to the CWS semifinals and earns a rematch with No. 6 LSU, which defeated the Razorbacks 4-1 in their CWS opener on June 14. Because of that early loss, Arkansas will need to beat the Tigers twice in two days in order to make it to the CWS championship series. A loss in their June 18 matchup will knock the Razorbacks out of the double-elimination tournament.
The loss to Arkansas knocked UCLA out of the CWS, ending its season at 48-18. The Bruins were playing their second game of the day after suffering a 9-5 loss to LSU that was pushed back to Tuesday after a lengthy weather delay Monday night.
Paste BN Sports brought you updates, scores and highlights from the game:
Arkansas vs UCLA baseball live score
This section will be updated throughout the game.
| TEAMS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | F |
| UCLA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Arkansas | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | — | 7 |
Arkansas vs UCLA baseball live updates
Final: Arkansas 7, UCLA 3
UCLA added a third run in the ninth inning after a wild pitch from Will McEntire, but Arkansas settles down to secure a 7-3 win that pushes it to the College World Series semifinals, where the Razorbacks will face off against LSU.
UCLA gets on the board in the ninth inning
A frustrating night for UCLA will end with at least a couple of runs. After a leadoff triple from Mulivai Levu, AJ Salgado trickles a grounder up the third-base line and reaches first on a fielding error to bring home his teammate.
One batter later, and with Salgado on second base, Payton Brennan singles and reaches second on a throwing error. The miscue from the Razorbacks allows Salgado to get home from second, cutting Arkansas' lead to 7-2.
Arkansas extends lead to 7-0
Justin Thomas Jr. adds on to Arkansas' lead in the bottom of the eighth inning, ripping a line drive to left field to bring home Brent Iredale. Thomas reached second base with a stand-up double.
The Razorbacks' lead is now up to 7-0.
Wild pitch brings sixth run home for Arkansas
With a runner on third base, UCLA's Justin Lee throws a wild pitch, bringing Arkansas' Cam Kozeal home and extending the Razorbacks' lead to 6-0 in the bottom of the eighth inning.
UCLA strands two runners in eighth
With runners on first and third with one out, the Bruins had a superb chance to carve into Arkansas' lead, but come up empty. Big Ten player of the year Roch Cholowsky grounds into a double play, with Wehiwa Aloy scooping up the grounder, stepping on second and throwing Cholowsky out at first.
UCLA is down to its final three outs.
Logan Maxwell stretches Arkansas lead to 5-0
With teammates on first and third and two outs, Logan Maxwell comes through for Arkansas in the bottom of the seventh inning, hitting an opposite-field double to the wall to bring in two runs.
The Lima, Ohio native has two hits tonight, the latest of which has pushed the Razorbacks' lead to 5-0.
UCLA goes down in order
The Bruins go three up and three down, with a strikeout and a pair of groundouts. A UCLA offense that has mustered only three hits today will need to heat up soon, with the Bruins down to their final six outs.
Arkansas shut out in sixth inning
The Razorbacks go down in order, with UCLA's Cal Randall striking out two Arkansas batters and getting a third to pop out to end the sixth inning.
UCLA blanked in sixth inning
The Bruins are retired in order, with Roman Martin striking out looking to end the top of the sixth inning to keep Arkansas' lead at 3-0.
Arkansas adds run, but strands two
Wehiwa Aloy's triple padded Arkansas' lead, but the Razorbacks' attempt at an even bigger fifth inning doesn't come to fruition, with Ryder Helfrick popping out to second base with runners on first and third to end the inning.
Wehiwa Aloy extends Arkansas lead
With two outs and facing a 2-2 count with a runner on third, Wehiwa Aloy comes up big, hitting a shot to deep center field that goes off the wall — missing out on a home run by only a couple of inches — and brings home a run. Aloy ends up with a triple, giving him three RBIs on the evening.
The Razorbacks' lead is up to 3-0, with UCLA yet again turning to its bullpen, replacing Ian May with Cal Randall.
UCLA makes pitching change
With runners on first and second with no outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, UCLA turns to its bullpen, taking out starter Cody Delvecchio in favor of Ian May. Delvecchio exits the game after giving up seven hits and, for now, two earned runs while striking out three batters.
UCLA strands two on base
In a game in which runs have been at a premium, UCLA may have just squandered an excellent opportunity.
With runners on second and third and two outs, Dean West grounded out to second base, ending the top of the fifth inning and keeping the Bruins scoreless. UCLA is now 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position.
Arkansas goes down in order
The Razorbacks are unable to build on their lead, going three up and three down in the fourth inning. Kuhio Aloy had the most promising at-bat, hitting a ball to deep left center field, but it was tracked down by UCLA's Payton Brennan.
UCLA shut out in fourth inning
The Bruins come up empty for a third-consecutive inning. This time around was perhaps the most frustrating yet, with Mulivai Levu reaching first base on a throwing error, but slipping as he rounded the base, allowing Arkansas to retrieve the ball and throw him out at first.
Arkansas comes up empty to end third inning
The Razorbacks yet again get a man on base on a two-out single from Logan Maxwell, but Ryder Helfrick strikes out swinging to end the inning.
Three up, three down for UCLA
For the second consecutive inning, UCLA's batters go down in order, with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout. Arkansas and pitcher Zach Root have retired the past eight Bruins batters.
Arkansas shut out in second inning
The Razorbacks get a pair of hits in the second inning, but come away scoreless after grounding into a double play before Justin Thomas Jr. gets thrown out at first on a bunt attempt to end the inning.
UCLA goes down in order
After an eventful first inning, Arkansas has more success against UCLA in the second. The Bruins go three up and three down, with Zach Root getting his first two strikeouts of the game to retire the final two batters.
Wehiwa Aloy homer puts Arkansas on the board
With a man on first and no outs, Wehiwa Aloy does what he has for so much of the season, drilling a pitch 377 feet over the right-field wall for a two-run, opposite-field home run for Arkansas.
It's the 21st homer of the season for the SEC player of the year and Golden Spikes finalist, giving the Razorbacks a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
Arkansas catches UCLA stealing home, gets out of jam
UCLA very nearly broke the game open its first time up to the plate, loading the bases with one out in the top of the first inning. Arkansas was able to hold strong, though, with UCLA's AJ Salgado lining out to shortstop and, more dramatically, Dean West getting caught stealing home.
The Bruins challenged the out call at the plate, but the ruling was upheld after a video review.
Arkansas baseball starting lineup
Here's a look at the lineup Arkansas will roll out against UCLA in their College World Series elimination game:
UCLA baseball starting lineup
Here's the lineup UCLA will roll with against Arkansas on Tuesday night:
Arkansas baseball starting pitcher
With its season on the line, Arkansas will trot its ace, Zach Root, who is 8-6 with a 3.82 ERA this season.
UCLA baseball starting pitcher
Looking to avoid elimination, UCLA will start Cody Delvecchio, who is 1-3 this season with a 6.82 ERA in just seven appearances.
What time does Arkansas vs UCLA baseball start?
- Date: Tuesday, June 17
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Where: Charles Schwab Field Omaha (Omaha, Neb.)
Arkansas and UCLA are scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. ET first pitch on Tuesday, June 17 at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha in their College World Series elimination game.
What TV channel is Arkansas vs UCLA baseball on today?
- TV: ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN app | ESPN+ | Fubo (free trial)
The CWS elimination game between Arkansas and UCLA will air on ESPN. Karl Ravech (play-by-play), Kyle Peterson (analyst), Eduardo Pérez (analyst) and Kris Budden (sideline reporter) will be on the call.
Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app (with a TV login), ESPN+ — ESPN's subscription streaming service — and Fubo, the last of which carries ESPN and offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
Arkansas vs UCLA baseball predictions, picks, odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Tuesday, June 17
- Spread: Arkansas -2.5
- Over/under: 10.5 runs
- Moneyline: Arkansas (-400) | UCLA (+280)
Prediction: Arkansas 6, UCLA 3
It's highly unlikely Zach Root will match Gage Wood's historical feat from yesterday, but the Razorbacks' ace should have enough in his arsenal to keep a talented UCLA lineup at bay.
College World Series schedule
The College World Series began on June 13 and will run through June 22 or 23, depending on whether the best-of-three championship series requires two or three games. Here's a look at the latest college baseball schedule and NCAA Tournament bracket update.
- College World Series: June 13-22/23
- CWS finals: June 21-22/23