UCLA Softball: Azevedo and Ta’amilo Combine to Shutout Stanford, 3-0

Holly Azevedo and Selina Ta’amilo combined to throw a three-hit shutout as UCLA defeated Stanford, 3-0, last night at Easton Stadium. Azevedo gave up two hits and walked two while striking out one in the 4²⁄₃ innings she pitched for the win. Ta’amilo pitched the final 2¹⁄₃ innings and allowed just one hit while walking two and striking two out. She earned her second save of the season.

UCLA could have had a really big third inning but they only scored one run. Zoe Shaw led off the inning with a single to right. Kinsley Washington followed Shaw and also singled, giving the Bruins runners on first and second with no outs. The Bruins loaded the bases when Stanford pitcher Carolyn Lee hit Aaliyah Jordan with a pitch with one out. Brianna Tautalafua then hit into a fielder’s choice which scored Shaw and moved Washington and Jordan. UCLA’s threat of a big inning ended when Bubba Nickles popped up for the third out of the inning.

While that run would have been enough, the Bruins added two more insurance runs in the sixth. Jordan led off the inning with a single to center and Tautalafua laid down a bunt to move her to second. Tautalufua beat out the throw and UCLA had two runners on with no outs. Nickles also bunted to advance Jordan to third and Jenna Crawford, who was pinchrunning for Tautalafua, to second. Unfortunately, unlike Tautalafua, Nickles was out at first. Taylor Pack was up next and she hit an infield single to load the bases. Madeline Jelenicki, playing in just her third game of the season, doubled down the right field line to drive home Jordan and Crawford and give the Bruins a 3-0 lead.

Stanford managed to load the bases with one out on a pair of walks that sandwiched a Bruin fielding error, but Ta’amilo got Stanford to fly out twice to close out the game and send the crowd of almost 1,300 home happy.

This afternoon, the Bruins look to break out their brooms for the third straight weekend as they look to win their tenth in a row when the teams take the field at Easton Stadium at noon PT.

This is your UCLA Bruins vs. Stanford Cardinal game three open thread.


Go Bruins!!!