Perez Notches 300th Career Hit in 3-2 Dub Over Oregon State
CORVALLIS, Ore. – The No. 4 UCLA softball team rode a three-run fourth inning to a 3-2 victory over Oregon State at Kelly Field on Saturday afternoon.
Holly Azevedo started the game in the circle for the Bruins (35-5, 12-2 Pac-12) and picked up her second win of the series after going 4.1 innings and striking out four Beavers.
Oregon State first baseman Frankie Hammoude scored the game's first run in the first inning with an RBI single into the left-center gap.
Azevedo settled in after the first by retiring the 10 batters she faced. Her record moves to 15-2 on the year.
Briana Perez recorded the 300th hit of her career in her first at-bat of the game with a single to center field. She is just the fourth Bruin in program history to achieve that feat (Natasha Watley, Stacey Nuveman and Kylee Perez).
Briana Perez ties big sis Kylee Perez with her 301st career hit ... and it's a 𝐁𝐈𝐆 one! 💥
📺: Pac-12 Networks
📱: https://t.co/oqEJAGqsB5 #GoBruins | @briiperezz pic.twitter.com/diE3O42cEg— UCLA Softball (@UCLASoftball) April 23, 2022
UCLA's breakthrough in the fourth opened with a walk to Anna Vines. Seneca Curo stepped into the batter's box next and tied up the game with an RBI double off the right field wall. It was Curo's fourth double and fifth extra-base hit of the year.
After Curo, the bottom of the order once again loaded the bases in a huge spot for the top of UCLA's lineup. Alyssa Garcia and Kelli Godin got on board with a single through the right side and a perfectly-laid bunt single.
A batter later, Briana Perez gave the Bruins a 3-1 lead with a 2-RBI single for the 301st hit of her career, tying her sister Kylee Perez's career mark.
Beaver Mariah Mazon closed the gap in the bottom of the sixth with a solo shot to center field.
Megan Faraimo, in her third inning of relief, struck out the side in the seventh inning to end the game and record her Pac-12-leading fifth save of the season.