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NCAA Softball: UCLA Advances to NCAA Super Regionals

By Ashley Tellier

Feb 17, 2017; Cathedral City, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins pitcher Rachel Garcia pitches against the Cal Poly Mustangs at Big League Dreams. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 17, 2017; Cathedral City, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins pitcher Rachel Garcia pitches against the Cal Poly Mustangs at Big League Dreams. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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The UCLA Softball team defeated Cal State Fullerton in the NCAA Los Angeles Regional Final, advancing to the Super Regionals.

UCLA Softball easily defeated Cal State Fullerton in the NCAA Los Angeles Regional final 9-1. The Bruins had a hot first inning, but it would take until the fifth before UCLA Softball would really get things going.

Facing Fullerton’s starting pitcher Kelsey Kessler, Kylee Perez got on base after a hit to center field.

Madeline Jelenicki then opened up the scoreboard for the Bruins with a homer. This was Jelenicki’s third home run in three games of post-season play, putting the Bruins up 2-0 against Fullerton.

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Rachel Garcia started in the circle for the Bruins. The pitcher got a no-hitter in her first Regionals appearance against Lehigh. She also started against San Jose State, but only saw action from the circle for a little over an inning.

Garcia got herself out of trouble multiple times throughout the game against the Titans. First, as she forced a fly out at the bottom of the first with two runners on base, and then during the third inning when she struck out Kylie Padilla with the bases loaded. Garcia would end the game with nine strikeouts after seven innings.

The game progressed with little excitement as the Bruins held on to a 2-1 lead. However, in the fifth inning, UCLA Softball would finally take control of the game. The leadoff batter, catcher Paige Halstead, opened the inning with a solo home run to the right field.

Up next, Zoe Shaw and Delaney Spaulding got on first and second with hits to the right field. Perez, who was attempting a sacrifice bunt, positioned the ball so perfectly and ran so quickly to first that she was able to beat the ball to the base, loading the bases for the Bruins. Power hitter Brianna Tautalafua would then connect with the ball to get a grand slam, lifting UCLA Softball 7-1 over the Titans.

The game would quiet again until the top of the seventh when Bubba Nickles would get a two-run RBI double, increasing the Bruins lead 9-1. Tautalafua would close the game for the Bruins by catching a pop-up ball from Samantha Vandiver to get the final out of the game.

Next: Will Josh Rosen Bounce Back for UCLA?

The Bruins will host #10 Ole Miss in the Super Regionals on Thursday.