Bruins Clinch Pac-12 Conference Title
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TUCSON, Ariz. - The second-ranked Bruins claimed a 6-2 victory at No. 8 Arizona in game one of Friday's doubleheader to clinch the program's 11th Pac-12 Conference title. UCLA dropped the nightcap at Hillenbrand Stadium by a score of 5-1.
In game one, sophomore Megan Faraimo (17-3) struck out 10 in a complete-game, five-hitter, allowing two runs. She had 1-2-3 frames in the second, third and sixth and two strikeouts in the first, fifth and seventh.
At the plate, six different Bruins (40-3, 18-2 Pac-12) combined for their nine hits, as juniors Briana Perez and Delanie Wisz both posted two-hit contests.
The game was scoreless until the sixth when the Bruins scored three times. Perez led off with a single and came home on senior Rachel Garcia's 11th home run of the season. Wisz followed with a double, and was pinch-run for by freshman Grace Guzman, who moved to third on a single by freshman Maya Brady and scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of sophomore Anna Vines to make it 3-0.
In the seventh, one swing of the bat doubled the Bruins' total. With two outs and Perez at second after reaching on a bunt single and Garcia on first following a fielder's choice, Wisz launched her team-leading 12th homer of the season to make it 6-0. Arizona (35-12, 12-9 Pac-12) scored twice in the bottom of the seventh, but UCLA held on for the victory.
In game two, which did not count towards the Pac-12 standings, the Bruins (40-4) were plagued by two untimely errors, leading to four of Arizona's five runs being unearned. Junior Holly Azevedo (8-1) struck out six in five innings, allowing three runs (one earned), five hits and three walks. She struck out two apiece in the fifth and sixth innings. Garcia struck out three in an inning of relief, giving up two unearned runs and two hits. UCLA had just two hits.
Arizona (36-12) scored twice in the third and three times in the fourth before UCLA broke through in the fifth. Junior Aaliyah Jordan drew a one-out walk, Perez singled, Garcia walked and Wisz was hit by a pitch to make it 5-1. The Bruins had their chances, but left nine on base.
UCLA will take on Arizona on Saturday at 1 p.m. The game will air on Pac-12 Network.