UCLA Softball Splits Twinbill With Washington; Looks to Take Series Today
The Bruins lost the first game yesterday, but came back to win the nitecap.
The Bruins split yesterday’s doubleheader with the Washington Huskies. UCLA lost the first game, 7-4, but took the nitecap, 6-1. The Bruins now lead the weekend series two games to one and will look to win the series when the teams meet for the final game this afternoon. First pitch is set for 1 pm PT and today’s game will be broadcast on ESPN2.
Last Time Out
The Huskies roughed up Bruin starter Megan Faraimo in the first game yesterday. She gave up six runs on ten hits over 5-1/3 innings. When your starter gives up that many runs, it makes it tough to win games and yesterday was no exception.
Washington catcher Morganne Flores hit a two-run homer in the top of the first to put UCLA behind early and the Bruins never caught up.
They did, however, stay in the game early. UCLA got one of the runs back in the bottom of the first when Aaliyah Jordan hit an RBI single which scored Briana Perez who had walked and stole second.
The Huskies began the second inning with runners on second and third following a single and an error. That led to Kelly Inouye-Perez to bring in Rachel Garcia for Faraimo. While Garcia only allowed one hit, it did result in another Washington run, which was charged to Faraimo.
UCLA got the run back in the bottom of the second on an RBI single by Kinsley Washington and, after two, the Huskies led 3-2.
In the third, Garcia gave up a double and an RBI single which increased Washington’s lead to 4-2. Another single gave the Huskies runners on the corners with two outs and Inouye-Perez decided to bring Faraimo back in for Garcia and the Bruins were able to get out of the inning when Perez threw out the runner from third who was trying to steal home after the runner on first stole second.
Faraimo gave up two more runs in the fourth on a two-run homer to right and Washington now led, 6-2. That homer proved to be the game-winning hit and the Huskies added an insurance run in the sixth that left UCLA trailing, 7-2.
Maya Brady closed that gap in the bottom half of the sixth with a solo home run to right center, but the Bruins just couldn’t do anything else in the inning.
The Bruins tried to mount a two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh but, again, they could only add a breadstick to the scoreboard and they fell, 7-4.
Game two began a lot like the first one — with a Husky first-inning home run.
But things would be different this time.
That was the only run Holly Azevedo allowed over seven innings. She scattered four hits and a walk while striking out six.
Initially, the game started the same way offensively for the Bruins. They managed to put up a breadstick in the bottom of the first on a Husky throwing error. But, this time, that tied the game.
UCLA continued to struggle scoring until the bottom of the fifth. That was when they exploded with a five-run rally that was capped by a two-run homer by Brady. With the Bruins now leading 6-1, Azvedo was able to get through the final six outs without having a runner in scoring position.
Today’s game will determine whether the Bruins can win the series or if the teams will split the four games. Broadcast coverage shifts from Pac-12 Networks for the first three games to ESPN2 for today’s game.
#2 UCLA Softball (27-3, 9-2)
Opponent:Â #3Â Washington Huskies (34-6, 12-2)
Where:Â Easton Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
When:Â 1:00 pm PT, Sunday, April 25, 2021
TV:Â ESPN2
Live Stream:Â WatchESPNÂ and the Pac-12 Now app
Live Stats:Â UCLA StatBroadcast
Game Notes
UCLA
Washington
Official Preview
Go Bruins!!!
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