No. 3 UCLA Falls in Extras to No. 5 Florida State, 4-3

CLEARWATER, Fla. – The No. 3-ranked UCLA softball team finished its weekend at the St. Pete Clearwater Elite Invitational with a loss to No. 6 Florida State, as the Seminoles walked it off in the eighth inning.
 
UCLA (7-3) totaled six hits for the game, including a home run from Kinsley Washington. Megan Faraimo earned the start and went 3.2 innings before giving way to Holly Azevedo, who also pitched 3.2 innings.
 
The Bruins notched a two-spot in the top of the second to take an early lead. After a leadoff single from Delanie Wisz, Anna Vines smashed a ball to center field that skipped off the glove of Jahni Kerr, allowing Wisz to score from first. Lauryn Carter followed with a lined shot into the right-center gap for an RBI double and her first hit of the season.
 
UCLA led 2-0 in the bottom half of the second when Michaela Edenfield hit a solo shot to cut the Bruins' advantage in half. The Seminoles would threaten with two on later in the inning, but Faraimo slammed the door with a strikeout of Kaley Mudge to end the inning.
 
Florida State took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning after a two-run single from Bethaney Keen. Azevedo entered in relief of Faraimo and recorded the final out of the inning.
 
Washington led off the top of the fifth with a game-tying solo shot to right center for her fifth of the year, which extended her 10-game hitting streak to start the 2022 season.
 
The teams exchanged scoreless sixth and seventh innings before the game went into extras. The Bruins took the plate in the top half of the eighth with Briana Perez placed on second base. UCLA loaded the bases after Wisz reached on an error and Vines walked, but a flyout from Thessa Malau'ulu held the Bruins scoreless.
 
The Seminoles came up in the bottom half of the eighth and walked it off on a double from Kalei Harding.
 
The Bruins are back in action for the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, Calif. from Feb. 25-27. The first matchup of the weekend is against Iowa State on Friday, Feb. 25 at 5:30 p.m. PT.