Jelenicki HR Lets UCLA Softball Walk-off with Another Win over Huskies, 3-2

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Madeline Jelenicki came to the plate for UCLA. Jelenicki took the first pitch from Gabbie Plain for ball one. After fouling off the second pitch and taking a called strike, Jelenicki found a pitch she liked and drove it to left and over the 1978 National Championship banner to give the Bruins the second straight win over the top-ranked Huskies.

And, in just two days, the Bruins have managed to double Washington’s loss total for the season.

But, it wasn’t a guaranteed win.

The Huskies scored first with two runs in the first off starter Holly Azevedo, but the Bruins came back in the fourth inning when Aaliyah Jordan hit a two-run home run to right to tie the game up.

Meanwhile, Rachel Garcia, who had replaced Azevedo in the circle in the third inning, held the Huskies scoreless over 4¹⁄₃ innings. Garcia struck out six and only allowed one hit and one walk for her 15th win of the year.

But she almost lost this one.

Garcia hit two batters in the sixth, giving the Huskies runners on first and second with two outs. That brought up Taylor Van Zee, who tore a ball down the right field line that looked like it was going to score a pair of runs for Washington. But, it was called foul by the home plate umpire and Van Zee, then, flew out to left and ended the threat.

The Huskies threatened again in the seventh. A fielding error by Kinsley Washington and a walk again gave the Huskies runners on first and second, this time, with just one out.

But, Garcia struck out the next two batters to end that threat and setting stage for Jelenicki’s walk-off homer.

And the Bruin fans went home happy.

This afternoon, UCLA looks for the sweep when the teams meet at 2pm. Today’s game will be televised by Pac-12 Networks National, LA and Washington.

This is your UCLA Bruins vs. Washington Huskies game three open thread.


Go Bruins!!!