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Last night, the UCLA softball team got back to their winning ways when they defeated Oregon, 8-3. Rachel Garcia threw a complete game and allowed three runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out eight for her 16th win of the season.
Oregon got on the scoreboard when they scored a run in the top of the first while UCLA didn’t score until the bottom of the third.
That’s when Paige Halstead led off with a single to center. KInsley Washington moved Halstead over to second when she laid down a bunt, which she beat out for a hit. With runners on first and second and no outs, Kelly Inouye-Perez sent Jacqui Prober in to run for Halstead and then had Kelli Godin lay down a bunt which moved the runners to second and third. Briana Perez then drove in Prober to tie the game and Bubba Nickles singled through the left side scoring Washington and Perez. That put the Bruins up, 3-1.
UCLA sent nine batters to the plate in the fourth inning. The rally started with a lead-off walk to Colleen Sullivan. Inouye-Perez went to the bench and sent pinchrunner Danae Blodgett in to run for Sullivan. Blodgett advanced to second on a wild pitch and Halstead walked. Godin reached on an error after she laid down a sacrifice bunt. Meanwhile, Blodgett scored what would become the game-winning run. The Bruins went on to score four more insurance runs in the inning to take a commanding 8-1 lead.
Oregon got two runs back in the top of the fifth, but those were the last runs Garcia gave up and the Bruins went on to win 8-3.
This afternoon, the Bruins will play the Ducks again in the rubber game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm PT and the game will be broadcast on ESPN2.
This is your UCLA Bruins vs. Oregon Ducks softball rubber game open thread.
Go Bruins!!