With bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning, Oregon pitcher Devin Bell threw a pitch that lightly grazed the tip of UCLA second baseman Phoenix Call helmet.

After reviewing the play, the umpires ruled it a hit-by-pitch, drawing in the game-winning run for the Bruins. The call helped UCLA defeat Oregon 3-2 in 11 innings on Sunday in Omaha, Nebraska.

The victory marked the third straight walk-off win for UCLA in the Big Ten Tournament. Junior first baseman Mulivai Levu walked it off in back-to-back games for the Bruins with a sacrifice fly against Purdue on Friday and a three-run home run against USC on Saturday.

No. 1 ranked and No. 1 seed UCLA claimed the Big Ten regular season title outright earlier this year. This is the first time since joining the conference last season that the Bruins also won the Big Ten Tournament title.

Will Gasparino Ejected and Suspended

UCLA’s first run of the game came from a triple from Texas junior transfer Will Gasparino in the fourth inning.

While trying to run home from third base, Gasparino got caught in a pickle. As he tried to get back to third base, Gasparino collided with Oregon third baseman Drew Smith.

Oregon challenged the play, and Gasparino was ejected. The All-Big Ten First Team selection, who is the Bruins’ starting center fielder and ranks second on the team with 19 home runs, will also have to miss UCLA’s first game of regionals next weekend as a result of the ejection.

“It’s a tough one,” outfielder Payton Brennan said, per the Daily Bruin. ”He’s trying to stay in the rundown. It’s baseball. Hopefully nothing too bad in the postseason happens because of it. We want Will on the field.”

UCLA will host regionals at Jackie Robinson Stadium starting Friday.

Photo Credit: Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images

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