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Freshman pitcher Megan Faraimo pitched a complete game last night and held the Utah Utes to only one run in five innings while striking out seven. The Utes’ only run was a home run in the top of the third, but Utah wasn’t able to score any more runs and left a total of nine on base.
The UCLA offense started the game strong when Bubba Nickles hit a lead-off double. Briana Perez then singled to score Nickles while Perez also managed to score on the play due to a Utah fielding error that sent the ball all the way to the wall. Rachel Garcia then homered to center field and the Bruins led 3-0. Aaliyah Jordan doubled and scored on an RBI single to center by Malia Quarles.
UCLA built on their 4-0 lead in the second. After a pair of lead-off walks to Perez and Garcia, Perez stole third and scored on a throwing error. After a walk to Colleen Sullivan, Danae Blodgett pinch-ran for her. With two outs, Brianna Tautalafua hit a two-run single through the left side, scoring Garcia and Blodgett and the score was 7-0.
With the game already in hand, Sullivan and Quarles added a pair of exclamation points when they hit back-to-back homers to give the Bruins a 9-1 lead, which invoked the mercy rule when the Utes were unable to score in the top of the fifth.
Today’s game will not be televised, but free live audio is available on uclabruins.com and live stats are available as well.
This is your UCLA Bruins vs. Utah Utes softball game three open thread.
Go Bruins!