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UCLA Softball Goes Down Swinging In An Epic Women’s College World Series Game, Bruins Eliminated By Auburn

By Mike Regalado

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UCLA Softball may have had their season ended prematurely by the Auburn Tigers in the Women’s College World Series, but they did not take it lying down. In fact, the Bruins went out swinging, literally. Even though UCLA lost 11-10 in a 10-inning game, the Bruins out-hit the Tigers 17-11.

UCLA Bruins
UCLA Bruins /

UCLA Bruins

This game was an instant classic as both softball teams refused to quit and forced three extra innings in an elimination game for both teams. If one team scored a run, the other would respond with one (or more) of their own. Just as well, when one team had a strong offensive push, the other team would apply pressure on defense and vice versa. If you did not see this game, you missed out.

UCLA and Auburn could not get anything on the board until the 3rd inning. That is when both teams combined for 11 total runs, making it 6-5 in favor of Auburn. UCLA started things off when Gabrielle Maurice hit a triple with the bases loaded to bring in three runs by Ally Carda, Stephany LaRosa and Mysha Sataraka.

A few moments later, Maddy Jelenicki scored off a Kylee Perez hit. Just after that, Perez and Gracie Goulder pulled off an incredible double-steal that brought Goulder in for a 5-0 UCLA lead. And that was just the top of the inning.

In the bottom of the 3rd, Auburn responded with six runs of their own to take the lead, 6-5.

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UCLA tied the game at six in the 4th when Allexis Bennett scored off a Sataraka sacrifice hit. Unfortunately, at the bottom of that inning, the Tigers scored three more runs to take a 9-6 lead going into the 5th inning. The Bruins scored a run in the 5th, but was still up against the ropes going into the seventh and final regulatory inning.

With UCLA down 9-7, they responded in a big way. After tying the score with a couple of RBIs, Jelenicki  nearly clinched the win with a blast over the wall which gave UCLA the 10-9 lead.

Unfortunately for UCLA, Auburn was not done either. They scored the tying run in the bottom of the 7th and nearly stole the game for themselves. With a runner at third, the Tigers hit it right to the Bruins who forced a double-play and extra innings.

With a scoreless 8th and 9th inning, the game was to be decided in what would be the tenth and final inning when Auburn scored a run for the win.

Though it was a tough loss, it was not without a championship effort by the Bruins. They lose the second game in the double-elimination bracket and finish the season with a 51-12 record. It was a fantastic season with a spectacular final game, but unfortunately the Bruins end their season two-games away from the final round of the Women’s College World Series.

There is no reason to hang heads here because these Bruins showed they had grit all season long. And with that we give the UCLA Softball team an “8 clap”…

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8… U! C! L! A! UCLA, FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!!

GO BRUINS!