LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — The No. 1-ranked UCLA Bruins used a relentless offensive approach and a parade of effective pitchers to overcome an early deficit and defeat the Loyola Marymount Lions 6-2 in a nonconference baseball game Tuesday evening at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena.

The Bruins (22-2), extending their win streak to eight games, trailed 2-0 after the top of the first inning but methodically chipped away and eventually pulled away, showcasing the depth that has defined their dominant start to the season. The Lions fell to 7-20.

Loyola Marymount struck quickly against UCLA starter Angel Cervantes. Jack Wall and Dylan Ghiorso opened the game with back-to-back singles. After a strikeout and a stolen base put runners on second and third, the Lions capitalized on a UCLA error. A groundout by Duce Gourson brought Wall home, and a subsequent RBI single from Connor Whitton gave the visitors a two-run lead before the Bruins had come to bat.

UCLA answered immediately in the bottom half of the first against Lions starter Jared Geis. Roch Cholowsky doubled to drive in a run, and an RBI groundout by Phoenix Somers tied the game 2-2, erasing the early advantage.

The most important sequence of the game came in the bottom of the third inning, which proved to be the decisive rally. With the score still tied, Cholowsky singled and Roman Martin walked, chasing Geis. Reliever Niko Riera entered for Loyola Marymount but was greeted by an RBI single from Cameron Kim that scored Cholowsky and put UCLA ahead for good. Following another walk to load the bases, Maverick Handley delivered a sacrifice fly to bring in another run, giving the Bruins a 4-2 lead they would not relinquish.

From there, the UCLA bullpen took command. After Cervantes lasted just 1 2/3 innings, six Bruin relievers combined to stifle the Lions’ offense over the final 7 1/3 frames. Justin Lee, who earned the win, entered in the third and provided 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just one hit. He was followed by CJ Bott, Jack O’Connor, Cal Randall, Ian May and Easton Hawk, who closed the door in the ninth.

The Bruins added insurance runs in the seventh inning without the benefit of a hit. A hit-by-pitch, a stolen base, an RBI groundout by Jordan Khansarinia and a wild pitch pushed two more runs across, extending the lead to 6-2.

Loyola Marymount managed only six hits total and struck out 15 times as a team. After Whitton’s first-inning RBI single, the Lions’ only other run came on a solo home run by Whitton in the second inning. They put multiple runners on in only the third inning but could not score after taking the 2-0 lead.

UCLA’s offense was paced by Cholowsky, who went 3 for 4 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI. Kim contributed two RBIs. The Bruins collected nine hits and drew nine walks, consistently applying pressure.

The victory was in line with pregame projections from Interstat, whose game simulator had predicted a 7-2 UCLA win and whose ELO system gave the Bruins an 82.2% probability of victory.

UCLA looks ahead to a weekend road series at Iowa beginning Friday. Loyola Marymount returns home to host Cal Poly on Wednesday before opening West Coast Conference play at Santa Clara this weekend.