The Bruins are no strangers to the NCAA tournament. They have made an appearance in every one dating back to 1999 and have missed just one Super Regional since 2014. This tournament experience was abundantly clear in Friday’s dominant victory.
No. 9 seed UCLA (50-10, 17-5 Big Ten) routed the unranked UCSB Gauchos (34-25, 17-10 Big West) 9-1 at Easton Stadium in the NCAA Regional. The Bruins improved to 20-2 at home on the season, a record that will continue to aid them as hosts of the Los Angeles Regional.
The offense started off slow, with just one collective run scored between both teams until the bottom of the fourth inning. UCSB opened scoring in the top of the second, when Delaina Ma’ae hit a single to right field, scoring Alexa Sams.
Outside of one earned run, UCLA’s Taylor Tinsley pitched a solid outing. In her four innings, she allowed just three hits, keeping the lead small while the Bruin bats were cold.
UCLA’s offense finally exploded in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs in a two-out rally. A hit by pitch and a Taylor Stephens single set up runners in scoring position for Kaitlyn Terry. Terry took the first pitch she saw deep to center field, her second home run of the season, to put the Bruins ahead 3-1.
Terry added two innings of shutdown pitching to take UCLA’s lead into the bottom of the sixth. The six-run inning featured two more homers for the Bruins, extending their lead to 9-1, enough to secure the run-rule victory.
Jessica Clements began the scoring, launching a three-run homer to center field. The Gauchos finally decided to switch pitchers to Ainsley Waddell, but she was equally unable to slow down the powerhouse Bruin offense.
Jordan Woolery knocked in a RBI single before UCLA’s home run leader, Megan Grant, sent her 24th of the season spiraling over left center. With the blowout victory secured, Grant rounded third base with her hands to the side of her face, signaling “good night” to the Gauchos.
In the end, it was Terry who shone brightest for the Bruins on Friday afternoon, coming up huge offensively and on the mound. She batted 1-for-3 with the crucial lead-taking homer in the fourth, while pitching two scoreless innings.
Following the triumph, the Bruins are set for a matchup against San Diego State on Saturday afternoon. A win will send the Bruins to the championship of the Regional bracket, with a chance to reach the Super Regional.
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Featured Image Photographed by Nicolas Greamo/Daily Bruin
