Faraimo Clutch as Bruins Beat Northwestern 6-1
OKLAHOMA CITY - With their backs against the wall in an early elimination game at the Women's College World Series, the No. 5 seed UCLA Bruins used a clutch performance by Megan Faraimo both on the mound and at the plate to beat No. 9 seed Northwestern, 6-1, to advance to Sunday's play at Hall of Fame Stadium.
Faraimo fanned 10, including Northwestern's all-time home run leader Rachel Lewis looking with the bases loaded in the fifth and the Bruins clinging to a one-run lead. In the top of the next inning, Faraimo led off the inning with a first-pitch home run to extend UCLA's lead to 3-1.
ARE YOU KIDDING @MeganFaraimo 🤯
📺 ESPN2#WCWS x @UCLASoftball pic.twitter.com/T2WtVaiksq
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) June 4, 2022
The Bruins (49-9) broke it open in the top of the seventh inning, adding three more runs on an RBI single by Alyssa Garcia, a squeeze by Anna Vines that scored Maya Brady and a fielder's choice RBI by Thessa Malau'ulu.
UCLA took a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning using small ball. Leadoff batter Kinsley Washington drew a four-pitch walk and moved to second after a Briana Perez sacrifice bunt. Then, first-pitch swinging, Delanie Wisz singled Washington home to put UCLA ahead.
A fourth-inning error doubled up UCLA's lead. With the bases loaded, Washington sent a fly ball to shallow left field, but Angela Zedak dropped the ball, allowing Savannah Pola to score to make it 2-0 Bruins.
Faraimo (23-5) allowed just one hit in the first four innings, a leadoff single in the first. She retired the side in order, however, with help from a strike 'em out, throw 'em out executed to perfection by Wisz and Perez.
The Wildcats (45-13) got on the board in the fifth inning when Grace Nieto slapped a double down the left field line to plate one. After Skyler Shellmyer walked to load the bases, Lewis got ahead on the count 3-0, but Faraimo got her looking on three straight pitches for her seventh strikeout of the game to keep the Bruins' lead at 2-1.
From 3-0 down in the count, @MeganFaraimo fires in three straight for the biggest strikeout of the night.
LET'S GO!!!
— UCLA Softball (@UCLASoftball) June 4, 2022
UCLA will next play on Sunday, June 5 at 12pm against the loser of Saturday night's Florida/Oklahoma State game. The elimination game will be televised live on ABC.