Azevedo Tosses Hitless Outing as No. 3 UCLA Defeats Wisconsin, 5-1

CLEARWATER, Fla. – The No. 3-ranked UCLA softball team earned its third-straight victory at the St. Pete Clearwater Invitational, as the Bruins picked up a 5-1 win over Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon.
 
Holly Azevedo tossed 5.0 no-hit innings and surrendered just one unearned run in the top of the first. She improved to 3-0 on the season with the win and lowered her ERA to 0.42.
 
UCLA (7-2) compiled eight hits on the day and did all its necessary offensive damage with a five-run second inning. Kinsley Washington went 2-3 with a pair of RBI and Briana Perez added two RBI of her own.
 
Notably, Washington is riding a nine-game hitting streak to start the season and has recorded multiple hits in four-straight games.
 
The Bruins trailed, 1-0, heading into the bottom of the second, but rallied for five runs to take a commanding lead. Anna Vines baited a rundown, which allowed Maya Brady to score UCLA's first run of the game. Washington and Perez then added a pair of two-RBI doubles to make it 5-1 after two.
 
Azevedo continued to deal, striking out a pair in the third and fourth innings keep Wisconsin at bay. The Bruins threatened in the bottom of the fifth after singles from Kelli Godin and Washington, but the rally stalled and the four-run lead was maintained.
 
It was 5-1 in the sixth when Azevedo gave way to Lauren Shaw. The Badgers recorded their first hit of the afternoon with a double from Ally Miklesh, but she was tagged out at third trying to extend her knock into a triple. Shaw would retire the side for the scoreless sixth and come back to close things out in the seventh.
 
The Bruins are set to finish up their trip to St. Pete/Clearwater with a marquee matchup against No. 5 Florida State at 4 p.m. PT on ESPN.