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The UCLA Softball team swept a doubleheader against the Spartans of Michigan State and of San Jose State with a pair of 10-0 5-inning mercy rule wins.
The Bruins played Michigan State first. In that game, UCLA was the visiting team and they wasted no time and scored two runs in the top of the first. Meanwhile, in the second, the Bruins sent all nine batters to the plate and tacked on 5 more runs in the inning to take a 7-0 lead.
In the top of the fifth, Bubba Nickles singled to start the inning. Julie Rodriguez pinch-hit for Zoe Shaw and doubled to score Nickles. Malia Quarles then doubled to score Rodriguez. After Kinsley Washington pinch ran for Quarles, Briana Perez singled to score Washington and the Bruins led 10-0.
Holly Azevedo and Selina Ta’amilo combined for a one-hitter. Azevedo earned her sixth win of the season.
UCLA was the home team in the second game and they got on the board in the bottom of the second. Rachel Garcia walked to lead off the inning and she moved to third on a double by Bubba Nickles. Paige Halstead singled to left to score Garcia and give UCLA a 1-0 lead.
In the fourth, UCLA sent 12 batters to the plate en route to scoring 9 runs which included a three-run home run by Nickles and was capped by a two-run homer by Garcia as the Bruins took a 10-0 lead.
Garcia pitched five scoreless innings and allowed just one hit and three walks while striking out four for her ninth win of the season.
Today, the Bruins face the Boston University Terriers at 2 pm at the LBSU Softball Complex. The Terriers are just 8-11 on the year. BU is led by junior catcher Alex Heinen, who is from San Clemente and went to Santa Margarita Catholic in Orange County. Heinen is batting .338 with seven doubles and 22 RBIs.
The Terriers will tend to play small ball as none of their 50 of their runs so far this season have scored on homers. As a result, the Terrier offense should be no matchup for the Bruins pitching staff, which does not tend to give up a lot of baserunners, making small ball nearly impossible against the Bruins.
Look for the Bruins to win this game in a mercy-rule shortened game.
This is your UCLA Bruins vs. Boston U. Terriers softball open thread.
Go Bruins!!!