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Sophomore Wes Whisler misses a pitch during Tuesday’s 8-7 win at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

All night long, the Bruins had been slamming balls over the fence. Even senior Christian Lewis, who until last night had one home run to his credit in four years, hit one out.

But despite four home runs, UCLA still found itself down a run to UC Santa Barbara in the bottom of the ninth, its playoff hopes hanging on whether or not someone could hit another one out of Jackie Robinson Stadium.

Freshman Brett McMillan didn’t hit a pitch over the fence, but he did hit one right off of it, and it turned out that was all the Bruins needed. Two runs scored off of McMillan’s walk-off double and the Bruins topped UCSB 8-7 before 271 fans.

“All season long, whether it’s batting practice or the game, Brett has done the same thing,” UCLA head coach Gary Adams said. “For a freshman to carry over what he’s done in batting practice to a crucial situation like that is just great.”

McMillan began the home run barrage in the bottom of the third when he hit the first pitch over the right field wall. The next inning, senior Brandon Averill hit a two-run shot, and the inning after that, Lewis and sophomore Wes Whisler tacked on another three runs with their two long balls.

At that point, the Bruins led 6-4 and senior pitcher Mike Kunes was rolling. He had posted two straight 1-2-3 innings and was working with speed and confidence, until the Gauchos’ Chris Malec tagged him for a solo homer in the top of the seventh.

With UCSB within a run, Kunes walked the next batter, saw him move over on a sacrifice bunt and then score on a single to center. That tied the score, and a misdirected throw from center fielder Matt Thayer allowed the runner to advance into scoring position.

The next batter, Nic Rodriguez, hit a sharp grounder to the left side, and sophomore Ryan McCarthy was unable to control it. UCSB took the lead and held on, all the way until McMillan sent Thayer and pinch runner Sean Carpenter home with his off-the-wall shot to right.

Sophomore Bryan Beck got the win after throwing two-and-one-third innings of no-hit ball and capping a pitcher-by-committee evening where almost every Bruin on staff was available.

“We would have been pretty down if we had lost tonight,” said junior Chris Cordeiro, who started the game and went three innings. “It’s an uphill climb as it is.”

The win improves UCLA’s record to 23-26. The Bruins must go 7-3 in their last ten games in order to qualify for NCAA tournament consideration.

“It’s definitely a playoff-type atmosphere every time we come out,” McMillan said. “You see guys willing to play different positions, you see pitchers willing to pitch two straight days, and it really fires the team up.”