COLLEGE PARK, Md. — No. 7 UCLA softball swept its Big Ten Conference series against Maryland, securing a 6-1 win on Saturday and a dominant 10-1 mercy-rule victory on Sunday at UMD Softball Complex.
Saturday: Late Home Runs Propel Bruins to Series Win
UCLA (32-5, 7-1 Big Ten) broke a scoreless tie in the sixth inning of Saturday’s game with a solo home run by junior third baseman Jordan Woolery. Freshman Kaniya Bragg followed with a two-run homer later in the inning, and junior Megan Grant added a three-run homer in the seventh to seal the 6-1 victory. Woolery went 2-for-2 with two walks, two runs scored and her conference-leading 16th home run of the season.
Junior pitcher Taylor Tinsley held the Terrapins (15-18, 3-7 Big Ten) scoreless through five innings, taking a perfect game into the sixth before allowing two hits. Tinsley struck out nine over six innings to secure her seventh win of the year. Freshman Addisen Fisher closed out the game with a scoreless seventh inning.
Sunday: Bruins Use Eight-Run Fifth Inning to Complete Sweep
The Bruins clinched the series sweep on Sunday with an offensive explosion, scoring eight runs in the fifth inning to cruise to a 10-1 victory in five innings. Freshman Sofia Mujica delivered the biggest blow, launching a pinch-hit grand slam — her second of the season — to extend UCLA’s lead to 7-1. Sophomore Savannah Pola and Bragg also contributed with key extra-base hits.
Woolery led UCLA’s offense, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and a RBI. Pola and right fielder Kaitlyn Terry each had two hits, while the Bruins totaled 10 hits, including five doubles and two home runs.
Fisher earned her 11th win of the season with a 5.0-inning complete-game effort, allowing one run on three hits and striking out five. She remains one of only 13 Division I pitchers — and the only freshman — with an undefeated record (11-0).
Series Notes:
UCLA outscored Maryland 25-2 over the three-game series, recording its 19th mercy-rule victory of the season on Sunday. Grant led the Bruins with nine RBIs in the series, including a career-high-tying six RBI performance in game one. UCLA has now won back-to-back conference series and continues to lead the Big Ten standings.
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Featured Image: Graduate student outfielder Jessica Clements rounds second base at Easton Stadium. Photographed by Karla Cardenas-Felipe/Daily Bruin.
