UCLA Collapse: Bruins’ Historic Upset at the Hands of Saint Mary’s

UCLA’s Collapse: The Fall of a National Favorite

UCLA entered the tournament as the No. 1 overall seed, a title that carried expectations of a deep run to the College World Series. But those hopes were dashed in a stunning fashion: the Bruins lost their opening game to No. 4 Saint Mary’s on Friday, May 29, in a 6-5 contest that lasted 12 innings, with UCLA’s bullpen surrendering five runs in the final two frames. The loss was compounded on Sunday, May 31, when UCLA fell 6-5 in a walk-off loss to Saint Mary’s in the regional semifinal, eliminating them from the tournament. According to Bleacher Report, this marks only the fifth time in NCAA history that a No. 1 seed has been eliminated in the regional round, joining Alabama (2019), Texas (2016), North Carolina (2013), and Georgia (2011).

The loss stings even more given UCLA’s recent dominance. Just seven years ago, in 2019, the Bruins won the national championship behind the arm of Ryan Garcia, who pitched a complete-game shutout in the title game. This year’s team, while talented, has struggled with consistency, and the upset by Saint Mary’s—whose bullpen held UCLA to just five runs in two games—exposed critical vulnerabilities. UCLA’s starting rotation, led by junior ace Cole Thompson (10-2, 2.87 ERA), has been inconsistent, with Thompson allowing six runs in his regional opener against Saint Mary’s. The Gaels’ resilience in extra innings proved decisive, and their victory sends a message to the rest of the field: no team is invincible, no matter how high their seed.

UCLA head coach Jim Leyland, who took over the program in 2022, addressed the media after the elimination, calling the loss “heartbreaking” but acknowledging the depth of Saint Mary’s roster. “They had a lot of guys who could step in and make a difference,” Leyland said. “We just didn’t have the same kind of depth. That’s something we’ll have to work on moving forward.” The Bruins’ next game is scheduled for June 3, when they will host a scrimmage against Cal State Northridge to begin rebuilding their rotation and bullpen.

The Domino Effect: Other Top Teams Fall to Underdogs

UCLA wasn’t the only top seed to suffer a shocking exit. No. 1 Auburn was eliminated by UCF in a 9-3 loss on Saturday, May 30, in the regional semifinal, despite entering the tournament with a 45-15 record. The Tigers’ starting pitcher, sophomore left-hander Jack McGrath (12-3, 2.45 ERA), allowed five runs in five innings, including a three-run home run to UCF’s Jake Rodriguez in the third inning. Auburn head coach Chris Gillis criticized his team’s lack of small-ball execution, stating, “We didn’t do the little things that win ballgames. UCF came out and played with a lot of energy, and we just didn’t match that.” The Tigers’ next game is a home series against Mississippi State on June 5-7, where they will attempt to regroup before the summer season.

No. 1 Florida State, meanwhile, was eliminated by St. John’s in a 21-8 blowout on Sunday, May 31, in the regional final, though they had already been eliminated by Northern Illinois earlier in the tournament. The Seminoles’ offense, which had been a strength all season (ranked No. 3 nationally in runs scored), was held to just five runs in the first game of the regional semifinal against Northern Illinois before rallying to win 6-5 in 10 innings. However, their inability to sustain momentum proved costly in the regional final, where St. John’s capitalized on Florida State’s bullpen struggles, allowing 15 runs in the first four innings. Florida State head coach Mike Martin called the loss “devastating” and noted that his team’s depth chart was “shallow” after key injuries to starters like junior infielder Tyler Jones (missed four weeks with a hamstring strain) and sophomore outfielder Drew Peterson (missed three weeks with a shoulder injury). The Seminoles’ next game is a home series against Clemson on June 4-6, where they will focus on retooling their lineup and rotation.

The double-elimination format has created a unique dynamic where teams can recover from early losses, unlike in single-elimination tournaments where a single defeat is fatal. This has led to some unexpected matchups in the regional finals, including:

For more on this story, see Saint Mary’s Stuns No. 1 UCLA to End Bruins’ Perfect 2026 NCAA Season.

• West Virginia advanced to the regional final after defeating Kentucky, 11-9, in 11 innings on Sunday, May 31, despite losing their opener to Wake Forest, 5-3, on Friday, May 29. The Mountaineers’ starting pitcher, junior right-hander Connor Hayes (11-4, 3.12 ERA), pitched six strong innings in the win against Kentucky, allowing just two runs while striking out 10. West Virginia head coach John Cohen praised Hayes’ performance, saying, “Connor was outstanding today. He gave us a chance to win, and the guys stepped up when it mattered.” The Mountaineers’ next game is a regional final against Texas on Tuesday, June 2, where they will look to continue their Cinderella run.
• Texas cruised past Tarleton State, 10-3, and UC Santa Barbara, 8-2, setting up a potential matchup with Alabama in the regional final. The Longhorns’ offense, led by junior first baseman Jake McGuire (15-10, .380 BA), has been a bright spot, with McGuire driving in four runs in the win against UC Santa Barbara. Texas head coach David McFadden noted that his team’s depth has been key, with seven pitchers contributing to the rotation this season. The Longhorns’ next game is the regional final against West Virginia on Tuesday, June 2, where they will aim to advance to the super regionals.
• Ole Miss overcame Nebraska to reach the regional final, where they’ll face Arizona State. The Rebels’ starting pitcher, junior left-hander Tyler Brown (10-3, 2.98 ERA), pitched seven strong innings in the win against Nebraska, allowing just one run while striking out 11. Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco called Brown’s performance “elite” and noted that his team’s bullpen has been a “big difference-maker” this postseason. The Rebels’ next game is the regional final against Arizona State on Tuesday, June 2.
• Georgia and North Carolina both advanced smoothly, with the Tar Heels eliminating East Carolina in a 9-3 victory on Sunday, May 31. North Carolina’s offense, led by junior third baseman Cole Tucker (14-10, .375 BA), scored five runs in the first three innings before cruising to the win. Tar Heels head coach Scott Stricklin praised Tucker’s leadership, saying, “Cole has been a rock for this team. His ability to step up in big moments is what separates him from the rest.” The Tar Heels’ next game is the regional final against Georgia on Tuesday, June 2.

The double-elimination format has also created a unique dynamic where teams can recover from early losses, unlike in single-elimination tournaments where a single defeat is fatal. This has led to some unexpected matchups in the regional finals, including Cal Poly vs. Saint Mary’s, Texas vs. West Virginia, and Alabama vs. Oklahoma State. The format favors teams with depth and resilience, and so far, the underdogs are thriving.

The Road to Omaha: Super Regionals Begin June 5

By Monday, June 1, the field has been narrowed to eight teams that will compete in the super regionals, beginning on Friday, June 5. The super regionals will determine the final eight teams heading to the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, from June 12-21. The eight remaining teams are:

The super regionals will be a two-game series, with some teams needing a third game if the series is tied after two. The format ensures that only the best teams advance, and with so many upsets already, the road to Omaha is far from predictable. Teams like Saint Mary’s, West Virginia, and Texas have already proven they can overcome adversity, and their journeys will be closely watched as the tournament progresses.

Saint Mary’s, in particular, has become the story of the tournament. The Gaels’ starting pitcher, junior right-hander Jack Sullivan (12-3, 2.78 ERA), has been a standout, allowing just two runs in 15 innings pitched in the regional round. Sullivan, who was named the West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2025, has been the engine of Saint Mary’s offense, which has scored at least five runs in every game this postseason. The Gaels’ next game is the regional final against Cal Poly on Tuesday, June 2, where they will look to make history by advancing to the super regionals for the first time in program history.

What’s Next: The Underclassmen’s Moment

One of the most fascinating aspects of this year’s tournament is the role of underclassmen. With so many top programs facing early exits, younger players—many of whom were redshirted or sat out due to injury—are getting their chance to shine. Teams like Saint Mary’s, which advanced to the regional final for the first time in history, are built on the backs of players who may not have been on anyone’s radar just a few months ago. For example, Saint Mary’s junior shortstop Ethan Carter (13-10, .360 BA) has been a key contributor, leading the Gaels in hits and RBIs this postseason.

The double-elimination format also means that teams can still recover from early losses, and the super regionals will be a true test of depth and mental toughness. With no clear favorites remaining, the tournament has become a wide-open race where any team could make a run to Omaha. The next few weeks will be critical, as the remaining teams battle for their spots in the College World Series.

The NCAA tournament has always been unpredictable, but this year’s edition has been particularly chaotic. From UCLA’s historic collapse to Saint Mary’s historic rise, the 2026 tournament is already being remembered as one of the most dramatic in recent memory. As the super regionals approach, all eyes will be on the underdogs—because in college baseball, the underdogs are often the ones who write the story.

As the tournament progresses, the stakes will only grow higher. For teams like Texas and West Virginia, a win in the regional final would secure their first super regional appearance in years. For Saint Mary’s, a victory against Cal Poly would mark the first time in program history that they would advance to the super regionals. And for the remaining top seeds, the pressure is on to prove that they can overcome early setbacks and make a deep run to Omaha.

The College World Series in Omaha is just a week away, and the field is as unpredictable as ever. With underdogs thriving and top seeds falling, the 2026 tournament has already delivered some of the most memorable moments in recent history. As the super regionals begin on June 5, the stage is set for a championship series that will be anything but predictable.