College Sports
UCLA
LOS ANGELES – The No. 6-ranked UCLA softball team fell to Northwestern, 8-0, in six innings in a Big Ten Conference series-opener at Easton Stadium Friday afternoon. The loss marked the second time this season the Bruins (46-8, 16-4 Big Ten) fell in mercy-rule fashion and was shut out. UCLA committed a season-high four […]
LOS ANGELES – The No. 6-ranked UCLA softball team fell to Northwestern, 8-0, in six innings in a Big Ten Conference series-opener at Easton Stadium Friday afternoon.
The loss marked the second time this season the Bruins (46-8, 16-4 Big Ten) fell in mercy-rule fashion and was shut out. UCLA committed a season-high four errors in the contest. Senior Savannah Pola, freshman Rylee Slimp and sophomore Kaitlyn Terry accounted for the Bruins’ three hits.
All eight of the Wildcats’ (28-16-1, 15-5 Big Ten) runs were unearned and came with two outs.
Northwestern scored its first three runs in the second inning after a fielding error with two outs by shortstop Kaniya Bragg extended the inning. Bragg, tracking a ball twirling towards shallow left field, collided with Slimp and the ball dropped between them. The next batter, No. 9 hitter Avery Garden, took advantage of the extra life with a towering two-run homer into the right field trees off UCLA starter Taylor Tinsley. On an 0-2 count to the Wildcats’ next hitter Grace Nieto, Tinsley surrendered a second straight homer for a third unearned run.
Nieto finished the game 3-for-3 and a longball. Garden and right fielder Kelsey Nader joined Nieto with multiple hits.
Tinsley finished the second inning before being pulled for right-handed reliever Addisen Fisher. Tinsley was dealt her fourth loss of the year despite not allowing an earned run.
With two outs in the third inning, junior third baseman Jordan Woolery was slow moving to her left and booted a ground ball hit by Lauren Sciborski with two on to load the bases. Once again, Northwestern took advantage of the opportunity with a bases-clearing triple into the left field corner by Ayana Lindsey to double the lead to 6-0. Lyndsey was brought home shortly after on a single by Garden into center field.
In the top of the sixth inning, Wildcats shortstop Kaylie Avvisato put the Bruins on run-rule notice by stealing second base and advancing to third on an errant throw down by UCLA catcher Sofia Mujica. Avvisato scored easily on a sacrifice fly by Nader to left-center.
NEXT UP
UCLA looks to even the series against Northwestern tomorrow at noon (PT) at Easton Stadium. Tickets are available to purchase at the LINK. The remainder of the series will be nationally televised on the Big Ten Network.
The loss marked the second time this season the Bruins (46-8, 16-4 Big Ten) fell in mercy-rule fashion and was shut out. UCLA committed a season-high four errors in the contest. Senior Savannah Pola, freshman Rylee Slimp and sophomore Kaitlyn Terry accounted for the Bruins’ three hits.
All eight of the Wildcats’ (28-16-1, 15-5 Big Ten) runs were unearned and came with two outs.
Northwestern scored its first three runs in the second inning after a fielding error with two outs by shortstop Kaniya Bragg extended the inning. Bragg, tracking a ball twirling towards shallow left field, collided with Slimp and the ball dropped between them. The next batter, No. 9 hitter Avery Garden, took advantage of the extra life with a towering two-run homer into the right field trees off UCLA starter Taylor Tinsley. On an 0-2 count to the Wildcats’ next hitter Grace Nieto, Tinsley surrendered a second straight homer for a third unearned run.
Nieto finished the game 3-for-3 and a longball. Garden and right fielder Kelsey Nader joined Nieto with multiple hits.
Tinsley finished the second inning before being pulled for right-handed reliever Addisen Fisher. Tinsley was dealt her fourth loss of the year despite not allowing an earned run.
With two outs in the third inning, junior third baseman Jordan Woolery was slow moving to her left and booted a ground ball hit by Lauren Sciborski with two on to load the bases. Once again, Northwestern took advantage of the opportunity with a bases-clearing triple into the left field corner by Ayana Lindsey to double the lead to 6-0. Lyndsey was brought home shortly after on a single by Garden into center field.
In the top of the sixth inning, Wildcats shortstop Kaylie Avvisato put the Bruins on run-rule notice by stealing second base and advancing to third on an errant throw down by UCLA catcher Sofia Mujica. Avvisato scored easily on a sacrifice fly by Nader to left-center.
NEXT UP
UCLA looks to even the series against Northwestern tomorrow at noon (PT) at Easton Stadium. Tickets are available to purchase at the LINK. The remainder of the series will be nationally televised on the Big Ten Network.