UCLA opened its Men's College World Series campaign with a hard-fought 6-4 victory over Murray State on Saturday afternoon at Charles Schwab Field Omaha.

With the win, the Bruins (48-16) move into the winner's bracket, where they will face the victor of the LSU-Arkansas matchup on Saturday night.

Leadoff hitter Dean West set the tone for UCLA's offense, delivering a 2-for-4 performance while scoring twice and driving in a run to account for three of the Bruins' six runs. West also drew his team-leading 45th walk of the season, reaching base three times in the game. His impact wasn't limited to the plate, as he made an impact on the defensive end with a crucial diving grab in the fifth to prevent a run.

At the bottom of the lineup, Phoenix Call contributed with a 2-for-3 effort and a run scored. AJ Salgado provided a clutch two-run double as part of UCLA's four-run fourth inning, while Mulivai Levu, Roman Martin, Payton Brennan, and Cashel Dugger each recorded a hit.

The Bruins jumped ahead early, striking in the opening frame when Martin worked a bases-loaded walk to bring in the first run. West and Roch Cholowsky had previously drawn back-to-back walks before Levu singled to right to set up the scoring opportunity. Though UCLA threatened for more, they couldn't capitalize further in the inning.

West doubled the lead in the second, punching a base hit into right field to drive in Dugger, who had led off with a double into the left-center gap.

The Bruins' offense erupted in the fourth, tacking on four runs to extend the lead to six. Call and West led off with singles before Cholowsky executed a well-placed bunt in a first-and-third situation to bring home a run. Levu was hit by a pitch to keep the rally alive, followed by Martin smacking an RBI single up the middle. Salgado capped off the big inning with a scorching two-run double to right field, putting UCLA firmly in control.

Murray State chipped away at the deficit, scoring a run in the fifth to chase UCLA starter Michael Barnett and adding another in the sixth to cut the lead to four. Barnett finished his outing with 4.2 innings pitched, allowing just one earned run while striking out four.

With runners on first and second and two outs in the fifth, West came up with a diving catch down the left-field line, preserving UCLA's lead and preventing a potential RBI hit.

Wylan Moss surrendered a leadoff single in the sixth before Ian May took over, marking the beginning of Head Coach John Savage's bullpen management.

Jack O'Connor worked through the seventh despite allowing two consecutive base hits, inducing a pair of fly outs before handing the ball to August Souza, who escaped the jam with a lineout to center.

Souza ran into trouble in the eighth when a leadoff walk and a double resulted in two runs for the Racers, cutting UCLA's advantage to two.

For the ninth, Savage turned to freshman right-hander Easton Hawk, who showcased his dominant stuff by striking out two in a perfect inning to lock down his eighth save of the season.

UCLA now awaits the winner of LSU and Arkansas in the winner's bracket. The next game is set for Monday, June 16 at 4 p.m. PT (6 p.m. CT) on ESPN.