UCLA Softball Has Been Here Before
The Bruins lost to the Auburn Tigers in their first game at the College World Series. In yet another game full of errors, UCLA was never able to recover after falling down early in the game.
The UCLA Softball team’s first game in the College World Series against #4 Auburn was ugly. UCLA was down 5-0 by the end of the first inning after only one hit by the Tigers.
Starting pitcher Selina Ta’amilo was pulled in favor of Paige McDuffee after facing just five batters. Both pitchers combined to hit four Auburn batters within the first inning. Let that sink in for a moment.
There is no question that the Bruins’ bullpen was rattled and struggling to find some rhythm. The offense was no better either.
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It was not until the fourth inning that the Bruins got a couple of players on bases with no outs. Mysha Sataraka would then hit a three-run homer to give the Bruins some momentum.
Unfortunately, UCLA was never able to capitalize and the offense would not score again for the rest of the game.
The Tigers went on to score five more times to seal the deal.
Sataraka’s home run marked UCLA’s 10th in the NCAA tournament, tying the Bruins with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette for most home runs in the tourney.
HOME RUN!!!! Sataraka with her 14th of the season right over the left-field foul pole. 7-3 Auburn, T4. pic.twitter.com/vBYIoHtVZh
— UCLA Softball (@UCLASoftball) June 2, 2016
This defeat puts the Bruins in the loser’s bracket, in a win-or-go-home scenario. UCLA will be facing #8 Florida State on Saturday at 9 am PST. The game will air on ESPN.
UCLA will play Florida State in the Saturday game at 9am PT/11 am CT on ESPN. #GoBruins #WCWS
— UCLA Softball (@UCLASoftball) June 2, 2016
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The Seminoles found themselves in the losers’ bracket after losing to Georgia. Like the Bruins, the Seminoles faced a lot of frustration after defensive miscues and errors would give the game away to the Bulldogs.
The bad news for the Bruins (as if we needed any more . . . ) is that UCLA has already lost to the Seminoles this year when they played at the Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament back in March.
The good news is that UCLA has been here before; after losing the first game to Oregon in the NCAA Super Regionals, the Bruins came back from behind to beat the Ducks back to back and advance to the WCWS. The Bruins know how to take a loss, regroup, and come back to win. Here’s to hoping that they will be able to do that Saturday.
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Go Bruins!