Garcia, Faraimo Mow Down Rebels
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LOS ANGELES - Senior Rachel Garcia struck out 14 in a one-hit shutout in game one of Friday's doubleheader, while sophomore Megan Faraimo fanned 12 in a one-hit blanking in game two, as No. 2 UCLA swept a twinbill against UNLV at Easton Stadium by scores of 10-0 in five innings and 8-0 in five.
In game one, Garcia's first 10 outs were recorded by strikeout, as well as 14 of 15, with a 1-2-3 fourth inning being the only one where she didn't strike out the side. Garcia (2-0) gave up just four baserunners on a second-inning single, a third-inning error and walk and a fifth-inning free pass. Eight different players combined for the Bruins' eight hits.
The Bruins (14-1) scored four times in both the first and second innings and twice in the third. In the first, senior Bubba Nickles led off with a walk and came home on a bomb by junior Briana Perez, her fifth of the season. Junior Aaliyah Jordan followed with a single, and one out later, junior Delanie Wisz walked. Freshman Maya Brady singled high off the wall in left to bring in Jordan to make it 3-0. After a walk to freshman Alyssa Garcia, junior Kinsley Washington grounded into a fielder's choice, but it scored Wisz to bring in the Bruins' fourth run.
In the second, Perez led off with a walk, stole second and third and came home on an RBI grounder by Jordan. Following a walk to Rachel Garcia, a Wisz double and a free pass to Alyssa Garcia, Washington drew a walk to bring in Rachel Garcia to make it 6-0. Senior Jenavee Peres then had a pinch-hit single to plate sophomore Anna Vines, who was running for Wisz, and Alyssa Garcia to increase the lead to 8-0.
The Bruins rallied with two outs in the third, as Rachel Garcia reached on a single, and was pinch-run for by freshman Lauryn Carter, with Vines and Brady drawing walks to load the bases. Alyssa Garcia knocked a single to left to bring in Carter and Vines to make it 10-0.
In game two, Faraimo (8-1) faced the minimum 15 hitters, retiring the side in order in the first three innings. After a leadoff single in the fourth, a caught stealing by Wisz eliminated that runner, as Faraimo then retired the final five batters.
Seven Bruins (15-1) combined for 11 hits, as Nickles, Perez, Vines and Wisz all had two-hit games.
The Bruins scored twice in the first inning, bringing in the runs in a similar way to game one. Nickles singled and Perez homered, her team-best sixth of the season.
In the second, Vines led off with a single, moved to second one out later on a ground out and scored on a Nickles single to make it 3-0.
UCLA invoked the mercy rule for the fourth game in a row with a five-spot in the fifth. Rachel Garcia led off with a home run, her second of the season. Wisz followed with a single, and was pinch-run for by senior Alana Snow. One out later, Vines doubled to the wall, as Snow scored to make it 5-0, with Vines advancing to third. Washington followed with a walk and moved to second before the ball got back in the circle, and Vines came in on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 6-0. Then sophomore Kelli Godin hit the first home run of her career to give the Bruins an 8-0 victory.
The Bruins open up Pac-12 Conference play next weekend against No. 5 Arizona State. The first contest of the four-game series will be on Friday, March 19 at 5 p.m. A live stream will be provided on UCLABruins.com.