UCLA Softball Hosts Virginia Tech in NCAA Super Regionals
After a narrow defeat of Minnesota in the regionals, UCLA continues their quest for #120.
After beating the Minnesota Golden Gophers last weekend in a close 2-1 victory, the UCLA softball team have advanced to the Los Angeles Super Regional where the Bruins will take on the Virginia Tech Hokies. Game one of the best-of-three series begins tonight at 6:30 pm PT. The game will be televised on ESPN.
Virginia Tech brings a pitcher with them that can duel with UCLA pitcher Rachel Garcia. Keely Rochard is third in the nation in strikeouts. She added 11 more to her total in the Hokies’ third game last weekend when Virginia Tech beat BYU, 11-3. Rochard held BYU to only six hits, and threw all 19 innings that the Hokies played last weekend while striking out 27 during that span. She comes into this series with an ERA of 1.24 and only 8 losses in 36 games.
In addition to Rochard, the Hokies have good hitters on their roster. Sophomore Kelsey Brown leads the team with a .395 batting average and 45 runs scored. Kelsey Bennett leads the team with 13 home runs and a .657 slugging percentage. This team may to push Garcia’s ERA over the 1.00 mark. Bennett, in particular, has had an amazing postseason, going 9-for-11 last weekend, and has gotten hits in each of her last seven at-bats. She also hit two home runs and drove in four runs last weekend.
Tonight’s game may prove to be another nail biter. 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 all three games are necessary to determine who advances.
Los Angeles Super Regional
Game #1
Teams:Â #2 seed UCLA Bruins (44-4) vs. Virginia Tech Hokies (36-13)
When:Â 6:30 pm PT, Thursday, May 27, 2021
Where:Â Easton Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
TV:Â ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN.com and the ESPN app
Live Stats:Â UCLA StatBroadcast
NCAA.com
Game #2
Teams:Â #2 seed UCLA Bruins (44-4) vs. Virginia Tech Hokies (36-13)
When:Â 6:30 pm PT, Friday, May 28, 2021
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 #2 seed UCLA Bruins (44-4) vs. Virginia Tech Hokies (36-13)
When:Â 6:30 pm PT, Saturday, May 29, 2021
Where:Â Easton Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
TV:Â ESPN2
Live Stream: WatchESPN.com and the ESPN app
Live Stats:Â NCAA StatBroadcast
NCAA.com
Series Notes:
UCLA
Virginia Tech
Official Preview
Go Bruins!!!
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That’s the game. A truly forgettable performance for UCLA. Just look at the line score:
VaTech 7 11 0
UCLA 2 3 5
It could have been a lot worse. The Hokies left 11 on base. Ugh. But tomorrow is another day. The Bruins need to fight.
Scoreless 6th. We go to the last frame with UCLA down four.