UCLA Softball: Bruins to Advance to Women’s College World Series

Tonight’s game started out a little rough for Bruins starter Rachel Garcia. After allowing just one hit last night, she hit Ashleigh Hughes who led off for the Wildcats. After a fielder’s choice, Alyssa Palomino came to the plate and she took a 1-1 pitch over the right field fence to put Arizona up 2-0.

After giving up a single and a walk, Garcia settled down to get the final two outs of the inning and stop the Wildcats from adding to their lead.

Garcia shut down Arizona in the remaining six innings as she only allowed two more hits the rest of the way. For the game, she struck out ten en route to another complete game and her 27th win of the season.

Meanwhile, the Bruin bats did enough to get the job done. With the bases loaded in the second inning, Bruin catcher Taylor Pack was hit by a pitch which brought home Garcia and cut the Wildcats’ lead in half.

UCLA played small ball again in the third when Briana Perez led off with a double to extend her hitting streak to 19 games. A few batters later, Bubba Nickles hit an RBI single which scored Perez to tie the game.

In the fourth, the Bruins had Kylee Perez on second and Briana Perez on first when Aaliyah Jordan came to the plate with two outs. Jordan singled up the middle to score Kylee Perez as UCLA took a 3-2 lead.

And, while that’s all the scoring the Bruins got tonight, it was all they needed and the final score was 3-2, Bruins.

UCLA now advances to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City starting next Thursday.


Go Bruins!!! Bring home 117!!!