| Softball |
|---|
| UCLA — 14 |
| UCF — 4 |
Energy shifts can make or break a game.
But if the Bruins know one thing…
It’s shifting energy at the right moment.
The No. 8 seed UCLA softball (52-8, 20-4 Big Ten) won against UCF (41-19-1, 14-9-1 Big 12) 14-4 on Saturday night at Easton Stadium in Game 2 the NCAA Los Angeles super regionals. UCLA has now won the three-game series and will advance to the Women’s College World Series for the 34th time.
Senior pitcher Taylor Tinsley set a season high with 11 strikeouts.
In addition to this season’s high, the Bruins totaled four home runs, two of them from redshirt freshman shortstop Aleena Garcia.
The Knights held on to UCLA throughout the first and second innings, leaving UCLA in the dust.
However, the dust eventually cleared up.
Junior designated player Soo-Jin Berry ran home after a flyout to left field by sophomore left fielder Rylee Slimp. With two loaded bases, Garcia singled out to left field and gave freshman center fielder Jolyna Lamar the opportunity to score.
The Bruins then swiftly took the lead.
Garcia hit the first home run of the night in the top of the fourth inning.
Continuing to push the momentum, freshman third baseman Bri Alejandre was hit by a pitch the following inning to help move redshirt junior pitch runner Rylee Pinedo home. Garcia advanced to second and senior first baseman Jordan Woolery to third.
Shortly after, sophomore second baseman Kaniya Bragg reached on a fielder’s choice, Alejandre to second, and Garcia to third base. Woolery got out at home.
Redshirt junior catcher Alexis Ramirez hit a double down the left field line. Both Alejandre and Garcia scored.
The Bruins were up five runs in comparison with the Knights.
That same inning, UCF scored on a throwing error by the catcher. A moment later, a foul ball to left field gave the Knights the open window to score.
Team efforts of a walk pushed advances to second, third and home. The Knights ran up three runs.
After all, the Bruins are known to stride forward.
Totaling her 20th home run of the season, Garcia hit a second home run to right field with both Woolery and Grant on base. All three Bruins scored in a united fashion.
The Bruins knew exactly how to close this out.
Woolery hit a double to right field with Grant on first and Lamar on second. Lamar took advantage of the time and ran home. Grant hit the third home run while helping her teammates to score along with her.
To tie off the inning, Alejandre hit the final home run to left field. The Bruins closed off the game with a final score of 14-4.
Tinsley has now pitched a total of 215 innings this season.
To add to the wins of the night, the Bruins are excited to continue moving forward with the Women’s College World Series on May 28 in Oklahoma City against Alabama.
