UCLA Softball: Bruins Bash 4 HRs as Garcia Shuts Out Sun Devils

How good is the UCLA softball team this season? Well, they’ve now won 18 games in a row and they have not allowed a run in the last 26 innings. That’s after Rachel Garcia threw a six-inning mercy rule shortened 9-0 complete game against Arizona State yesterday to clinch the weekend series for the Bruins.

The Bruins started scoring right away in the top of the first. As she’s done many times this season, leadoff hitter Briana Perez walked and stole second. Rachel Garcia also walked to give UCLA runners on first and second with two out when Taylor Pack came to the plate. Pack doubled down the left field line, scoring Perez and moving Garcia to third, but that was the only run the Bruins were able to score in the first.

In the third, Aaliyah Jordan hit a solo homer with one out to put UCLA ahead 2-0.

With one out in the top of the fifth, Jordan singled and Pack followed with a two-run home run to left center, putting the Bruins up 4-0.

Kelli Godin started a big Bruin rally in the sixth with single. After she stole second, Perez reached on a bunt single that gave UCLA runners on the corners. Bubba Nickles then homered to center, scoring both Godin and Perez as the Bruins took a 7-0 lead. After Garcia walked, Jordan hammered her second homer of the game, scoring pinch-runner Stevie Wisz. That gave UCLA a 9-0 lead.

Meanwhile, Garcia allowed just three hits and two walks over six innings with 12 strikeouts. She earned her 15th win of the season and lowered her ERA to a miniscule 0.50.

This afternoon, the Bruins will look to break out their brooms and sweep the weekend series at 4 pm PT with a game that will air on Pac-12 Networks.

This is your UCLA vs. Arizona State softball game three open thread.


Go Bruins!!!