UCLA Softball: Garcia K’s 15 as Bruins Come From Behind to Win 7-4

Rachel Garcia had struck out seven in the first four innings and she hadn’t given up a hit to the Seminoles.

Meanwhile, Florida State didn’t start their top pitcher Kylee Hanson. Instead, the Seminoles sent Meghan King to the circle. King pitched 4²⁄₃ innings and gave up just one run on five hits and a walk while striking out six.

In the meantime, the Seminoles got to Garcia in the top of the fifth for four runs and it wasn’t looking good for the Bruins.

Down 4-0 in the bottom of the fifth, Kylee Perez connected for an RBI single that scored Taylor Pack and gave UCLA runners on first and second with just one out. King managed to strike out Aaliyah Jordan, but, then, Florida State coach Lonni Alameda made the call to bring in Kylee Hanson to face Garcia, who struck out swinging to end the Bruins threat.

Garcia actually ended up striking out four Seminoles in the fifth because Pack couldn’t hold on to strike three to Dani Morgan and she beat the throw to first. Despite this, Garcia held the Seminoles at bay and the score was still 4-1, FSU.

UCLA loaded the bases with one out in the sixth when Julie Rodriguez pinch-hit for Kinsley Washington. Rodriguez hit a sacrifice fly to score Stevie Wisz and cut FSU’s lead to 4-2. That brought up Kylee Perez who sent a pitch flying over the right field wall to put the Bruins ahead for the first time, 5-4.

The Bruins would add an insurance run on a triple by Jordan which scored Briana Perez and another one when Rachel Garcia reached on an error by shortstop Cali Harrold and UCLA took a 7-4 lead into the seventh.

After Garcia allowed a lead-offf hit, she shut Florida State down again and the Bruins advanced to tomorrow night’s matchup against the #2 seed Florida Gators.

Game time for tomorrow night’s game against the Gators is 6:30 pm PT and the game will air on ESPN.


Go Bruins!!! Bring home 117!!!