| Softball |
|---|
| UCLA — 13 |
| Oregon State — 3 |
“For my Bruins, I couldn’t be more proud.” UCLA softball coach Kelly Inouye-Perez expressed previously, and for good reason.
No. 8 UCLA Bruins softball (18-3) 13-3 run-rule win against Oregon State Beavers (9-12) felt less like a surprise and more like the icing on the cake for their exemplary week.
The Bruins had already collected wins throughout this whole weekend, and the Judi Garman Classic on Sunday, March 1, was no exception as they have kept their winning streak up to 12 games now.
UCLA was fierce right off the bat of the first inning, and continued to do so as they scored runs in every single one. Sophomore second baseman Kaniya Bragg kicked off the first with an RBI single through the right side of the infield. This was her first of two, as she closed the game with three home runs and two RBIs.
The first two innings boasted 2-0 runs for UCLA, getting an early lead against Oregon. After Bragg’s initial jumpstart run, redshirt freshman shortstop Aleena Garcia followed suit, scoring another for UCLA.
The second inning saw senior right fielder Megan Grant’s notorious homers helping to widen the gap between UCLA and Oregon. Grant has homered in three contests and managed to do so for five of the five games that UCLA has played this weekend. Leader of the country in home runs this season with 16, she certainly will leave big shoes to fill for younger players continuing this season. Garcia again consolidated a second run for the inning after Grant’s.
The third inning was a closer one for UCLA, as Oregon and the Bruins both got just one run in. Senior pitcher Taylor Tinsley entered the third inning with Oregon in a threatening position. Yet, she managed to strike a batter out and end the inning so that UCLA stayed at an even scoring position. This game marked Tinsley’s ninth win of the year and demonstrates the strong force of the seniors for UCLA’s team.
March softball can be unpredictable with weather changes, momentum towards conference play and the shuffling of players. However, the fourth inning proved that UCLA’s consistency was anything but uncertain. The Bruins scored 5-0 runs in this inning, highlighting the teamwork of all players and coaches and stunning the crowd.
Grant clearly helped to inspire younger players, as freshman third baseman Bri Alejandre and freshman left/center fielder Jolyna Lamar scored RBIs, along with redshirt junior catcher Alexis Ramirez. The final two runs were homers from Bragg and, unsurprisingly, Grant.
The fifth and final inning was a consolidation of UCLA’s success. They scored three runs, meaning UCLA walked away from the field with 13 runs, 11 hits and 0 errors. Inouye-Perez has emphasized, “We believe there’s work, they play together, they have each other’s backs.” This is certainly true of the No. 8 UCLA team as they continue to, quite literally, knock the ball out of the park in every game.
Up next, UCLA will host Wisconsin from March 6 to March 8, with game one scheduled for 7 p.m. PST, hopefully continuing what seems to be their longest winning streak yet.
