UCLA Softball Faces Minnesota in Regional Finals after Beating Fresno State in Extra Innings
UCLA Softball Faces Minnesota in Regional Finals after Beating Fresno State in Extra Innings
The Bruins needed extra innings to get past Fresno State yesterday by a score of 5-4.
After a mercy-rule win over Long Beach State on Friday, the UCLA softball team needed extra innings to get past the Fresno State, 5-4. The win over the Bulldogs advances the Bruins to this afternoon’s game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Today’s game is scheduled for a 3 pm PT first pitch and the game will be broadcast on ESPN2.
Last Time Out
This game turned out to be a real pitcher’s dual. Through the first four innings neither team scored. Finally, in the bottom of the fifth, Fresno State, which was designated as the home team under NCAA rules, broke through with a run.
Bruin starter Rachel Garcia hit the first batter of the inning and the Bulldogs scored on an RBI double.
The game remained 1-0 until the top of the seventh.
Aaliyah Jordan began the seventh with a single to center. Lauryn Carter pinch ran for Jordan and advanced to second on a bunt by Briana Perez. Rachel Garcia was next and she tied the game up with a RBI single. But Fresno State starter Hailey Dolcini got both Delanie Wisz and Maya Brady to fly out to center to end the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, Rachel Garcia sent the Bulldogs down in order to send the game into extra innings.
Again, the Bruins got their leadoff hitter on base when Alyssa Garcia drew a walk. After Thessa Malau’ulu dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move the runner up, Kinsley Washington hit a double to give the Bruins runners on second and third. With two outs, Jordan hit a two-run single, which scored Alyssa Garcia and Washington. The Bruins scored again on an RBI double by Perez. With UCLA now up 4-1, Rachel Garcia drew a walk. That brought Wisz to the plate and she drove the ball up the middle scoring Perez. The Bruins now led 5-1 heading to the bottom of the eighth.
To Fresno State’s credit, they didn’t go down without a fight. In fact, it looked like Kelly Inouye-Perez was on the verge of one of her typical postseason bad decisions by leaving Rachel Garcia in the circle in the eighth. Garcia gave a single to start the inning. With one out, she hit a batter. The Bulldogs cut UCLA’s lead in half on a single down the right field line. Another single brought the winning run to the plate, who then walked. A grounder to short scored another run for Fresno State and the winning run was now on second with two outs.
But the competitive greatness of Rachel Garcia came through with a strikeout to end the game.
Minnesota Golden Gophers
After starting the LA Regional with a loss to Fresno State, the Golden Gophers have rebounded to win their last two games, beating Long Beach State, 11-0, to send the 49ers home and eliminating Fresno State last night by a score of 6-3.
Today’s game will almost bring closure to 2020 as the Gophers were the second to last team the Bruins played before the remainder of the season was cancelled last year.
The Bruins will be the visitors for the Game 6. If Game 7 is necessary, the Bruins will be the home team.
Los Angeles Regional
Game #6
Teams: #2 seed UCLA Bruins (43-4) vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers (31-12)
When: 3:00 pm PT, Sunday, May 23, 2021
Where: Easton Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
TV: ESPN2
Live Stream: WatchESPN.com and the ESPN app
Live Stats: UCLA StatBroadcast
Game #7 (if necessary)
Teams: #2 seed UCLA Bruins (43-4) vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers (31-12)
When: 5:30 pm PT, Sunday, May 23, 2021
Where: Easton Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
TV: TBD
Live Stream: WatchESPN.com and the ESPN app
Live Stats: UCLA StatBroadcast
Game Notes
UCLA
Tournament Bracket
Official Preview
Go Bruins!!!
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UCLA leads 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth and ESPN2 is having audio difficulties. And, that's a good thing because the announcers for the LA Regional have been terrible all weekend.