Bears Fall To Bruins In Opener

LOS ANGELES – Haylei Archer recorded seven strikeouts and Lagi Quiroga homered but it wasn't enough as the No. 20 California softball team fell, 3-1, to No. 12 UCLA in the series opener on Friday night at Easton Stadium.   

Quiroga went 2-for-3 with a double and her 10th long ball of the season to lead the Golden Bears (29-12, 4-9 Pac-12). Maya Brady doubled and scored a run for the Bruins (24-9, 9-3 Pac-12)

Archer continued her string of strong starts against the potent UCLA lineup, not allowing a hit until the third inning. After a strikeout and a walk, Brady's double and a Bear fielding error led to the first Bruin run. It was 2-0 heading to the fourth when Brady scored on a sacrifice fly.  

Quiroga got one right back in the fourth inning with a towering home run that curled inside the foul pole down the left field line. Trailing 2-1, Archer got it going again by retiring the next seven Bruins in a row until a triple and RBI single gave UCLA some insurance.

Cal brought the potential go-ahead run to the plate in the seventh with just one out, but a strikeout and groundout ended the game with two Bears on base.

UP NEXT
Cal and UCLA meet for game two of the series on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m. on the Pac-12 Network.     

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