UCLA softball came into the weekend with hopes of gaining momentum before Pac-12 play. The Bruins left with five straight victories. “Heading into Pac, I think this gives us a really good confidence boost to really push to play even better than we’re doing right now,” said sophomore first baseman Brianna Tautalafua. Read more...

Photo: Kylie Perez went 11-for-16 in five games last weekend. The junior second baseman is now on a six-game hitting streak, and has also come up with a hit in eight of her last nine games. (Ken Shin/Daily Bruin)

UCLA softball (16-5) will face five unranked teams this weekend, marking the the Bruins’ final tuneup before Pac-12 play. “This is the last weekend before conference starts that we will have an opportunity to get back out there and practice before entering Pac-12 so we can feel more confident about ourselves, “ said coach Kelly Inouye-Perez. Read more...

Photo: Johanna Grauer threw 19 innings over four appearances in in last weekend’s five-game set. The junior pitcher gave up nine earned runs, with eight of them coming against Baylor. (Ken Shin/Daily Bruin)

Preseason games aren’t exactly exhibition games. But for No. 7 UCLA softball (16-5), they serve a similar purpose: helping the team discover its identity and improve. Read more...

Photo: Junior pitcher Selina Ta’amilo threw four scoreless innings in Sunday’s game to pick up a victory over South Carolina. On the season, the junior pitcher is now 4-0 with a 1.77 ERA over 23 2/3 innings pitched. (Daily Bruin file photo)

A pair of two-run innings and seven scoreless innings gave No. 7 UCLA (14-3) a 4-0 win over No. 14 Michigan (10-5-1) on Thursday night in the first game of the Judi Garman Classic. Read more...

Photo: Zoe Shaw came up with an RBI double to knock in one of UCLA’s four runs Thursday night. The sophomore left fielder went two for three with a run scored on the evening. (Ken Shin/Daily Bruin)

UCLA softball will head into a defining slate of five games this weekend. The No. 7 Bruins (13-3) will discover their place among the country’s best – facing off against No. Read more...

Photo: Rachel Garcia has only given up 11 runs all season, but 10 of them came in last weekend’s tournament, when the Bruins faced four ranked teams. UCLA will play three ranked teams this weekend. (Ken Shin/Daily Bruin)

No surprises here. UCLA softball took home victories against teams that ranked below the Bruins, but took losses against teams that were ranked above them at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic II. Read more...

Photo: Sophomore first baseman Brianna Tautalafua went 4-of-13 in the five-game weekend set, scoring 3 runs. UCLA went 3-2 on the weekend, falling to teams which were ranked more highly than the Bruins. (Ken Shin/Daily Bruin)