Bruins Explode Late to Finish Off Sweep of Utah

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SALT LAKE CITY - The second-ranked Bruins scored five runs in their last two trips to the plate on Sunday to finish off a four-game sweep of Utah, winning 6-1 at Dumke Family Softball Stadium.

Sophomore Megan Faraimo (15-3) allowed just one hit in four innings, striking out one. She retired the first six batters of the game, and also added a 1-2-3 fourth inning. Senior Rachel Garcia struck out two in three innings of relief, giving up a run, three hits and one walk to earn her second save of the season.

At the plate, eight different Bruins (32-3, 13-2 Pac-12) combined for their eight hits.

UCLA scored in the second inning, as freshman Maya Brady hit her ninth home run of the season, a shot to dead center.

The score remained 1-0 until the sixth when the Bruins added another run. With one out, freshman Thessa Malau'ulu bunted for a hit, and one out later, stole second. A single up the middle by sophomore Kelli Godin put runners at the corners, with a bunt hit by junior Kinsley Washington scoring Malau'ulu to make it 2-0.

The Bruins exploded for four runs in the seventh. Junior Aaliyah Jordan led off with a walk, and was pinch-run for by freshman Grace Guzman, who moved to second one out later on a single to right by junior Delanie Wisz. With sophomore Anna Vines running for Wisz, a walk to Brady loaded the bases for senior Jenavee Peres, who had a pinch-hit single through the left side to bring in Guzman and Vines to make it 4-0. An infield single for freshman Seneca Curo loaded the bases for senior Julie Rodriguez, who connected on a pinch-hit single through the right side to score Brady and Malau'ulu to bring the lead to 6-0.

Utah (19-27, 2-16 Pac-12) scored in its half of the seventh on a solo home run, but UCLA finished off the four-game sweep to maintain first place in the Pac-12.

The Bruins host Stanford next weekend in the regular-season home finale at Easton Stadium. Game one of the four-game series is Friday, May 7 at 7 p.m. The entire UCLA-Stanford series will air on Pac-12 Network.