UCLA Softball Takes Two from Utah, 4-0 and 4-2
The Bruins will look to sweep the series today.
After sweeping yesterday’s doubleheader, the UCLA softball team will look to sweep their series against the Utah Utes today as this weekend’s series concludes. First pitch for today’s game is scheduled for 11 am PT and the game will be livestreamed. Yesterday, the Bruins won the first game by a score of 4-0 and the second game by a score of 4-2.
Last Time Out
In game one, Holly Azevedo threw 5-1/3 innings of shutout ball, allowing just two hits and a walk while striking out two. Rachel Garcia came in for the final four outs to pick up her first save of the season.
The first run of the game wasn’t scored until the fourth inning. After Delanie Wisz led off with a double, Maya Brady hit the ball to short and the shortstop was able to get Wisz out, but Brady was safe at first on a fielder’s choice. Thessa Malau'ulu singled and advanced Brady to third. Seneca Curo’s sacrifice fly then scored Brady. That would prove to the game-winning hit.
In the fifth, Briana Perez added an insurance run for UCLA when she homered to right. The Bruins got two more insurance runs in the top of the seventh when Wisz hit a two-run double, scoring Perez and Aaliyah Jordan who had walked and singled, respectively.
In the bottom half of the seventh, the Utes put together their biggest threat. With one out, Garcia hit a batter. Then, with two outs, she gave up a hit, giving the Utes runners on first and third. But she got the next batter to ground out to end the threat and the game.
In game two, the Utes picked up where they left off in game one. Haley Denning got a lead-off single off Bruin starter Lexi Sosa. She then took second on a passed ball and later stole third. Denning was able to score when Elessa Bonstrom hit into a fielder’s choice. With two outs, Halle Morris singled to center, scoring Bonstrom and giving the Utes a 2-0 lead.
That chased Sosa after just one inning as Kelly Inouye-Perez turned to Megan Faraimo. Neither teams pitcher allowed another run until the sixth inning. That’s when the Bruins finally got on the scoreboard.
Kelli Godin and Kinsley Washington were the first two Bruins to bat in the sixth and they both got on base with a pair of singles. A sacrifice bunt by Perez moved the runners up to second and third and Jordan drew a five-pitch walk to load the bases. After a Utah pitching change, Rachel Garcia drilled the second pitch she saw for a double which scored all three runners, giving UCLA a 3-2 lead.
In the top of the seventh, the Bruins picked up an insurance run on an RBI single by Perez which scored Washington who had reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second and advanced to third on the throw.
In the bottom half of the inning, the Utes got a single which brought the tying run to the plate with one out, but Faraimo was able to strike out the next two Utes to end the game and give the Bruins a 4-2 win.
Today, UCLA will look to sweep the weekend series from the Utes when the teams meet in the series finale.
#2 UCLA Softball (31-3, 12-2)
Opponent:Â Utah Utes (17-26, 2-15)
Where:Â Dumke Family Softball Stadium, Salt Lake City, Utah
When:Â 11:00 am PT, Sunday, May 2, 2021
TV:Â None
Live Stream:Â Pac-12.com
Live Stats:Â UCLA StatBroadcast
Game Notes
UCLA
Official Preview
Go Bruins!!!
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