No. 2 Bruins Split Saturday Doubleheader With No. 3 Washington
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LOS ANGELES - Freshman Maya Brady hit home runs in both ends of Saturday's doubleheader, while junior Holly Azevedo threw a complete game in the nightcap, as the second-ranked Bruins defeated No. 3 Washington 6-1 after dropping the opener 7-4.
In game one, the Bruins (26-3, 9-2 Pac-12) had eight hits from six different players, as junior Delanie Wisz and freshman Alyssa Garcia each posted two.
In the circle, sophomore Megan Faraimo (11-3) struck out five in 5 1/3 innings, allowing six runs and 10 hits. Senior Rachel Garcia fanned four in 1 2/3 innings of relief, giving up a run and four hits.
Washington (35-7, 13-3 Pac-12) scored twice in the first inning, but UCLA struck back in the bottom of the first. With one out, junior Briana Perez singled, stole second and scored on a single up the middle by junior Aaliyah Jordan.
The Huskies added another run in the second, but the Bruins again countered. With two outs and freshman Thessa Malau'ulu at second after a walk, junior Kinsley Washington singled to score her to make it 3-2 Huskies.
Washington broke it open with one in the third, two in the fourth and two in the sixth.
The Bruins rallied in the final two innings, and ended up having the tying run at the plate. In the sixth, Brady homered to right-center, her seventh of the season, to make it 6-3.
In the seventh, Perez singled with one out, and one out later, Rachel Garcia walked. Wisz followed with a single to score Perez to get the Bruins to within three. But the Huskies held on for the game one win.
In game two, which did not count towards the Pac-12 Conference standings, Azevedo (6-0) struck out six in a complete-game performance, allowing just one run, one walk and seven hits. She had 1-2-3 innings in the fifth and sixth.
At the plate, six Bruins combined for their nine hits, as sophomore Kelli Godin tied a career high with three and Malau'ulu added two hits.
As they did often in game one, the Bruins answered after the Huskies (35-8) scored in their first at-bat. Washington led off with a walk and stole second. One out later, Jordan tapped one back to the circle, but it was thrown away for an error to allow Washington to tie the game for UCLA.
The Bruins (27-3) broke it open with five in the fifth. Godin led off with a single, stole second and scored on a Washington single to give UCLA the lead. A Perez single advanced Washington to third, with an RBI grounder by Jordan scoring Washington to make it 3-1. Wisz then singled to bring home Perez with the Bruins' fourth run. One out later, Brady hit another long ball, her eighth of the season, to make it 6-1.
The Bruins and the Huskies finish up their four-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m. The game will air on ESPN2.