Faraimo Perfect Again, Strikes Out All 15 in Bruins' Takedown of Roadrunners
LOS ANGELES – Megan Faraimo struck out all 15 batters she faced on the way to tossing her second solo perfect game of the season and the third of her career in the No. 5 UCLA softball team's 14-0 mercy-rule victory over CSU Bakersfield at Easton Stadium on Friday night. Faraimo has now thrown four perfect games (including combined) in her career which ranks second all-time in UCLA (20-3) history behind Debbie Doom with six perfectos.
The Bruins' 22nd perfect game in program history tonight comes on the heels of a combined perfect game (Lauren Shaw and Faraimo) thrown just a night ago versus Pennsylvania. This is UCLA's first time throwing back-to-back perfect games. The last time the Bruins threw back-to-back no-hitters was on March 8 and 9, 2002, when Keira Goerl and Amanda Freed hung up goose eggs on Iowa and Virginia, respectively.
The Bruins have now thrown three perfect games this season – all coming within eight days – which ties a program record for most perfect games in one season, first accomplished in 1985. Delanie Wisz was the catcher for Faraimo's two solo perfect games this season, coming versus Fresno State on March 3 and CSU Bakersfield (2-7) tonight.
The 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 Battery 🔋🥎#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/NdRMkrEbAi
— UCLA Softball (@UCLASoftball) March 12, 2022
UCLA has also thrown four no-hitters this season, marking the ninth time the Bruins have accomplished the feat and first time since 2003.
Including her combined perfect game against Pennsylvania, Faraimo has struck out 23 of her last 24 batters faced. Faraimo leads the conference with 129 strikeouts and a 12.54 K/7 ratio.
Faraimo opened the game with 30 consecutive strikes. Her first ball came to the third batter of the third inning.
UCLA's first runs of the game came on a bases-loaded walk to Delanie Wisz, scoring both Kinsley Washington and Briana Perez who caught the Roadrunners sleeping and hustled around from second base.
Briana Perez unloaded the bases later in the inning with a three-RBI double to right center to bring the score to 8-0. Freshman Savannah Pola followed up in the next at-bat with a double of her own to knock in Perez.
Pola has now doubled in five straight games and hit six total two-baggers in that span. She leads the Pac-12 with 11 on the season.
UCLA tallied five more runs in the fourth inning behind a two-run single to center field by Seneca Curo and the first home run of Jayla Castro's collegiate career – a three-run shot to left center.