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On May 1st, the UCLA Softball team topped Cal State Fullerton, 5-3. This afternoon, the teams will meet again in the NCAA Los Angeles Regional after both teams won last night.
When the Bruins played Sacramento State last night, Rachel Garcia struck out 14 on her way to a one-hit shutout.
Her toughest inning of the night was the fifth inning when she walked Sydney Rasmussen to start the inning. Then, with two outs, Garcia also walked Hornet pitcher Celina Mathias. That gave Sacramento State runners on first and second. That brought up Jessica Scott with a runner in scoring position.
But, in an eight-pitch at-bat, Garcia won the battle and struck out Scott to end the threat.
The Bruins rallied in the bottom half of the inning. Taylor Pack started things off with a walk as she pinch-hit for Paige Halstead. Kinsley Washington advanced Pack to second with an infield single.
The Perez sisters came through as they have all season. First, it was Kylee whose RBI single scored Pack. Then, Briana singled home both Washington and Kylee Perez to give UCLA a 3-0 lead.
Sac State had one last threat in the seventh inning when Rasmussen hit a two-out double to right center and then stole third. But, again, Garcia came through. She struck out the next batter for her 14th strikeout of the game and got the last Hornet batter to foul out to Brianna Tautalafua at third.
Meanwhile, in the earlier, Cal State Fullerton used a 5th inning rally to earn a come-from-behind win over Texas State, 2-1.
That sets up a rematch of UCLA’s May 1st game against the Titans.
If the Bruins can beat CSUF this afternoon, they will advance to tomorrow’s regional final. Should they lose, they will face the winner of today’s game between Texas State and Sacramento State this evening.
Frankly, I’d be shocked if this team were to lose to the Titans today. I’m expecting them to take care of business today and again tomorrow to advance to the Super Regionals.
This is your NCAA Softball Los Angeles Regional Day 2 open thread.
Go Bruins!!! Bring home 117!!!