UCLA Softball Hosts Duke Blue Devils in 2022 NCAA Super Regionals
The Bruins continue the Quest for #120 this weekend after sweeping the Los Angeles Regional last weekend.
After sweeping the Los Angeles Regional last weekend, the UCLA softball team has advanced to the Los Angeles Super Regional where the Bruins will take on the Duke Blue Devils. Game one of the best-of-three series begins tonight at 8:00 pm PT. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
Earlier this week, TMB published an article about the LA Regional last weekend that’s certainly worth the read if you haven’t seen it yet.
Interestingly, the Bruins find themselves hosting an ACC team in the Los Angeles Super Regional again. Last season, UCLA hosted the Virginia Tech Hokies in the LA Super Regional. This year, it’s the Duke Blue Devils.
This is the first Super Regional ever for the Duke program. In fact, the Blue Devil softball program is still in its infancy in just its fifth season in existence.
Duke is led by head coach Marissa Young who has built a solid foundation for the Blue Devils. Her career record is a respectable 165-83. The team comes into Easton Stadium with a 44-9 mark this season.
The Super Regionals tend to go to the team which pitches better. The Blue Devils pitching staff is led primary starter Peyton St. George. She has started 25 games this season for Duke and she has a 22-3 record with a 2.01 ERA. By comparison, UCLA’s top starter Holly Azevedo has a 19-2 record with an outstanding 1.11 ERA.
Behind St. George, Duke has Jala Wright who started 18 games this season and compiled a 13-4 record with a 1.96 ERA. UCLA’s Megan Faraimo put together a 21-4 record this year with a 1.71 ERA in 22 starts.
So, at least on paper, the Bruins seem to have the edge when it comes to pitching.
But Duke has a 2-1 record against Pac-12 teams this year. So, don’t count out the Blue Devils.
This weekend’s series should be more competitive than last weekend’s games. The team which proves capable of roughing up the other team’s pitcher will be the one who wins tonight. Both teams are capable of a win and it wouldn’t be surprising if this series goes the distance to determine who goes to the WCWS.
That said, I still think the Bruins take the series, possibly with another sweep.
Los Angeles Super Regional
Game #1
Teams:Â #5 seed UCLA Bruins (46-8) vs. #12 seed Duke Blue Devils (44-9)
When:Â 8:00 pm PT, Friday, May 27, 2022
Where:Â Easton Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
TV:Â ESPN2
Live Stream: WatchESPN.com and the ESPN app
Live Stats:Â UCLA StatBroadcast
NCAA.com
Game #2
Teams:Â #5 seed UCLA Bruins (46-8) vs. #12 seed Duke Blue Devils (44-9)
When:Â 5:30 pm PT, Saturday, May 28, 2022
Where:Â Easton Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
TV:Â ESPN2
Live Stream: WatchESPN.com and the ESPN app
Live Stats:Â UCLA StatBroadcast
NCAA.com
Game #3 (If necessary)
Teams:Â #5 seed UCLA Bruins (46-8) vs. #12 seed Duke Blue Devils (44-9)
When:Â TBD, Sunday, May 29, 2022
Where:Â Easton Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
TV:Â ESPN Family of Networks
Live Stream: WatchESPN.com and the ESPN app
Live Stats:Â NCAA StatBroadcast (Link TBD)
NCAA.com
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Down 0-2 to Duke
Baseball down 5-7 to Cal.