No. 2 Bruins Sweep Saturday Doubleheader at Utah
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SALT LAKE CITY - The second-ranked Bruins received outstanding pitching performances from junior Holly Azevedo and sophomore Megan Faraimo, while junior Briana Perez had four hits in Saturday's doubleheader, as UCLA posted 4-0 and 4-2 victories over Utah at Dumke Family Softball Stadium.
In game one, UCLA (30-3, 12-2 Pac-12) had 10 hits from five different players, as junior Delanie Wisz recorded three hits and Perez, junior Aaliyah Jordan and freshman Thessa Malau'ulu each had two-hit contests.
In the circle, Azevedo (7-0) struck out a pair in 5 2/3 innings of shutout ball, giving up two hits and one walk. She retired the first eight batters of the game, adding another 1-2-3 inning in the fourth. Senior Rachel Garcia struck out two in 1 1/3 frames of relief, giving up one hit to earn her first save of the season.
The Bruins broke through with a run in the fourth inning. With one out and freshman Maya Brady at first after reaching on a fielder's choice, Malau'ulu singled her to third and freshman Seneca Curo drove her in with a sacrifice fly to center to make it 1-0.
In the fifth, Perez launched her 10th home run of the season to right to extend the lead to 2-0.
UCLA tacked on two more insurance runs in the seventh. With one out, Perez walked, Jordan singled and Garcia walked to load the bases for Wisz, who doubled to left-center to make it 4-0.
In game two, which does not count towards the Pac-12 Conference standings, Faraimo (14-3) struck out six in six innings of shutout relief. She retired the first 16 batters she faced, allowing just a seventh-inning hit. Faraimo struck out the side in the seventh and two in the fourth. The Bruins (31-3) had six hits from five different players, as Perez added another two-hit game.
Utah (19-26, 2-15 Pac-12) scored twice in the bottom of the first, but one swing of the bat in the sixth gave UCLA the lead. Sophomore Kelli Godin and junior Kinsley Washington led off with infield singles, and after a Perez sacrifice, a walk to Jordan loaded the bases. Garcia followed with a double to the wall in left-center to score three and put the Bruins ahead 3-2.
In the seventh, Washington reached on a fielder's choice, stole second, moved to third on the throw and scored on a Perez single to make it 4-2.
The Bruins look for the four-game sweep on Sunday at 11 a.m. PT. A live stream link will be available on the softball schedule page at UCLABruins.com.