Oregon baseball was on the verge of a statement series win against the nation's top-ranked team, but the Ducks learned the hard way that no lead is safe against a powerhouse like UCLA.

On May 10 at Jackie Robinson Stadium in Los Angeles, Oregon jumped out to a commanding 6-1 lead in the rubber game, only to watch it slip away as the Bruins rallied for an 9-6 victory. The loss was a missed opportunity for the No. 14 Ducks (36-14, 18-9 Big Ten) to bolster their NCAA regional hosting resume against the No. 1 Bruins (46-5, 26-1).

The turning point came in the fourth inning, when Oregon erupted for five runs. After a one-out fielding error and a walk, Jack Brooks delivered an RBI single to put the Ducks ahead 2-1. Ryan Cooney added a sacrifice fly, and then Brayden Jaksa crushed a three-run homer to center field, giving Oregon a seemingly comfortable 6-1 advantage.

But UCLA chipped away methodically, scoring two runs in the sixth and one in the seventh to cut the deficit to 6-4. The Ducks' defense faltered in the eighth, and the Bruins pounced. Five runs crossed the plate, capped by Dean West's grand slam that sealed the comeback.

The series had been a rollercoaster from the start. UCLA dominated Friday's opener 11-1 in seven innings, with starter Wylan Moss allowing just three hits and one run over seven innings while striking out nine. Oregon's Will Sanford struggled, surrendering six runs (five earned) in three innings.

Saturday's game was a different story. The Bruins jumped ahead 4-0 in the first, but the Ducks answered with four runs in the second to tie it. UCLA regained a 6-5 lead in the seventh, only for Oregon to rally again. With two outs and the bases loaded, Jack Brooks delivered a clutch double to left-center, clearing the bases and putting the Ducks ahead.

Tanner Bradley shut the door with 2 1/3 scoreless innings, securing the win and setting up Sunday's decisive matchup. But the Ducks couldn't close out the series, a reminder that in college baseball, momentum can shift in an instant.