In their last game of the 2025 regular season, the No. 6 Bruins (47-9, 17-5 Big Ten) fell to the unranked Northwestern Wildcats (29-17-1, 16-7 Big Ten) 5-3 at Easton Stadium on Sunday. UCLA has now lost yet another weekend series, their second of the last three.
The game’s scoring came in three spurts, the first of which happened in the top of the first. With runners on first and third, Isabel Cunnea singled to right field, giving Northwestern the early 1-0 lead.
The offense of both teams would stall until the bottom of the third, which featured three quick runs for UCLA. A RBI fielder’s choice from Jordan Woolery brought one runner home, evening the score. Then, after a four-pitch walk loaded the bases, Alexis Ramirez singled to third, scoring two and extending the Bruin lead to 3-1.
After conceding the early run, UCLA’s starting pitcher Taylor Tinsley settled into a solid rhythm. From the second inning until she was taken out, Tinsley allowed no runs and just one hit, striking out five batters.
After Addisen Fisher replaced Tinsley to begin the sixth, Northwestern’s offense exploded, recapturing the lead late. The rally began with Cunnea knocking in her second RBI single of the game to put the Wildcats within one. A walk then loaded the bases for Lauren Sciborski, who hit a bases-clearing single, scoring three more runs to take the 5-3 lead.
Despite the sixth inning collapse, the Bruins still had a chance, with the top of the order up to bat for the bottom of the seventh. However, they were not able to make any kind of late-game push, recording no hits in the final inning.
Fisher suffered her first loss of the season, falling to 16-1, while Northwestern’s Lauren Boyd pitched a complete game to improve to 14-4.
The 5-3 defeat marks UCLA’s fourth loss in their last nine Big Ten games after opening conference play 12-1. UCLA also fell out of contention for the regular-season Big Ten title, which Oregon clinched on Sunday.
Coach Kelly Inouye-Perez is not having the end of the season she had likely dreamed of, but the conclusion of her 19th year leading the Bruins continues her perfect streak of 19 consecutive winning seasons.
The Bruins are now locked into the 2nd seed in the Big Ten Tournament, which is set to take place May 7-10 at Bittinger Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana. They’ll receive a first-round bye before playing the winner of the matchup between the seventh and tenth seeds in the Quarterfinals.
The tournament champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA D1 Softball Tournament. However, even if UCLA does not win it, they are guaranteed a spot given their impressive regular-season performance.
Still, the Bruins should look to gain some momentum heading into the National Tournament and beyond.
Alexis Ramirez swings, sending the ball into the left field. Photographed by Sapna Drew/BruinLife.
Alexis Ramirez darts to first base as its defender attempts to tag her out. Photographed by Sapna Drew/BruinLife.
Sofia Mujica tries to protect home plate. Photographed by Sapna Drew/BruinLife.
Jessica Clements sends the ball down the left field as her teammates and coach watch from the dugout. Photographed by Sapna Drew/BruinLife.
