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Redshirt sophomore pitcher Rachel Garcia won her 11th game of the season on the mound last night for the Bruins, but she won the game for the Bruins with more than just her pitching.
That’s because Garcia also used her bat.
UCLA got on the scoreboard first in the top of the fourth inning when Brianna Tautalafua hit a two-run homer to left that also scored Kylee Perez. But it was Garcia’s solo shot in the sixth that made it 3-0, Bruins. That home run proved to be the game-winning hit.
The Bruins got Garcia three insurance runs in the top of the seventh on an RBI double by Kylee Perez which scored her sister Briana and a two-run home run by Aaliyah Jordan that scored Kylee.
Garcia gave up two runs in the bottom of the seventh, which ended her shutout bid, but she finished the game allowing five hits and walking three while striking out 16. She had a rare four-strikeout first inning due to a passed ball on strike three to the Ducks’ leadoff batter Jenna Lilley. She struck out the side again in the second and fanned two batters each inning in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth before adding one more in the seventh.
UCLA plays Oregon again tonight as the Bruins go for the series win on the road over the sixth-ranked Ducks.
This is your UCLA Bruins vs. Oregon Ducks softball open thread.
Go Bruins!!!