Bruins Drop Super Regional Opener to Virginia Tech

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LOS ANGELES - Senior Jenavee Peres came up with a two-out, two-run pinch-hit single in the fifth inning to put the second-ranked Bruins on the board, but it was not enough as Virginia Tech claimed a 7-2 victory on Thursday in Game 1 of Super Regionals at Easton Stadium.

UCLA (44-5) and Virginia Tech (37-13) continue the best 2-of-3 series on Friday at 6:30 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN2.

The Bruins had just three hits, with junior Kinsley Washington adding the other two. In the circle, senior Rachel Garcia (16-1) struck out seven in four innings, allowing six runs (four earned) and nine hits. Sophomore Megan Faraimo tossed two frames of shutout relief, fanning four and giving up one hit. Junior Holly Azevedo pitched the seventh, striking out the side and allowing a run, a hit and a walk.

The Hokies scored two in the first, two in the fourth and two in the fifth to go ahead 6-0.

In the bottom of the fifth, freshman Maya Brady walked with one out, Washington singled and both came home on a Peres single to left to cut the deficit to 6-2. Virginia Tech added a run in the seventh to win by a handful.