Friday, March 29

UCLA softball splits doubleheader against Washington, recording 1st home loss


Redshirt freshman utility Maya Brady hit home runs in both legs of No. 2 UCLA softball's doubleheader on Saturday, raising her season total to eight. (David Rimer/Daily Bruin staff)


Softball


No. 4 Washington7
No. 2 UCLA4
No. 4 Washington1
No. 2 UCLA6

For the first time this season, the Bruins wavered in front of a home crowd.

No. 2 UCLA softball (27-3, 9-2 Pac-12) split a doubleheader against No. 4 Washington (35-8, 13-3) on Saturday evening – falling 7-4 in game one, but winning 6-1 in the nightcap. The afternoon loss was the Bruins’ first in Easton Stadium this season.

“They outdid us,” said coach Kelly Inouye-Perez. “But I like that we were still able to find a way to win once tonight. They responded, which is just as important. You can get frustrated and drop game two, or you can punch back, and they did that.”

UCLA trailed early in the first game after a home run from Washington’s clean-up hitter scored two in the opening inning. The Bruins began closing the gap in the bottom of the half, scoring one when redshirt junior infielder Briana Perez walked and stole second before being sent home on a hit by redshirt junior outfielder Aaliyah Jordan.

After a fielding error in the second frame allowed a Husky to advance to third, redshirt senior pitcher/first baseman Rachel Garcia took over for redshirt sophomore pitcher/first baseman Megan Faraimo on the mound. Garcia did not allow any earned runs in the inning, though a single by Garcia’s second batter allowed the baserunner on third to score, increasing Washington’s lead to 3-1.

“(Garcia) can go into any situation at any time,” Inouye-Perez said. “She got us out of trouble and we kept her in until her quad tightened up. She didn’t play all game two, but I believe she’s going to be fine for tomorrow.”

Faraimo reentered the match at the end of the next inning, sending Garcia to the bench after recording four strikeouts and a single earned run.

The Huskies totaled 24 plate appearances in the latter five innings, recording runs in all but the fifth and seventh frames, and ending the game with 14 hits.

The Bruins recorded singles in the third and fourth innings, though both runners were stranded. UCLA went down in order in the fifth inning but managed to score on a solo home run by redshirt freshman utility Maya Brady in the sixth and an RBI by redshirt junior infielder Delanie Wisz in the seventh before officially dropping its third game of the year.

“I wish I could say that I’m happy with how I’m doing, but I honestly can’t,” Brady said. “I have high expectations for myself, and I want to contribute more to my team. I think tonight is the beginning of the real season. This is where it really matters.”

After each scoring once in the first inning of the nightcap, UCLA and Washington were knotted until the fifth inning of game two when a single by redshirt junior infielder Kinsley Washington into the gap sent redshirt sophomore outfielder Kelli Godin home.

Inouye-Perez said she takes pride in her team’s ability to work together to score.

“I’m always looking for a team that can manufacture runs,” Inouye-Perez said. “I’m more impressed with people who have quality at-bats, two-strike success, because that’s how we work together as a team.”

The Bruins scored four more times in the inning, including a two-run blast from Brady – her second of the day. In total, UCLA recorded 17 hits in 13 total innings on Saturday, and Godin recorded a 3-for-3 game two to raise her season batting average to .371.

Washington was unable to close the gap, failing to score in the final six innings of the second game.

The Bruins will end their series against the Huskies on Sunday at 1 p.m.

“We have to play us tomorrow,” Godin said. “The only people that can beat us are ourselves, and when we get into a rhythm, we’re gold.”

Sports staff

Hunt is currently a Sports staff writer on the softball and women's soccer beats. She was previously a reporter on the gymnastics, women's water polo and swim & dive beats.


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