Go Joe Bruin
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UCLA Softball: Bruins put on a clinic in Super Regionals Game 1

By Mike Regalado

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 03: A view of the new extended netting behind home plate at AT&T Park before the San Francisco Giants game against the Seattle Mariners on April 3, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 03: A view of the new extended netting behind home plate at AT&T Park before the San Francisco Giants game against the Seattle Mariners on April 3, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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The #3 UCLA softball team was not messing around when it came to game 1 of the NCAA Super Regionals as they beat Pac-12 rival #14 Arizona, 7-1.

After last weekend’s scare, the UCLA softball team came with a little more chutzpah in the Super Regionals as they tore apart Arizona on Thursday night with a 7-1 win.

RELATED: Rachel Garcia Named ESPNW Player of the Year

Despite the fact that UCLA needed an extra game to enter the Super Regionals whilst Arizona rolled in one three straight wins did not take away from the fact that the Bruins had the Wildcats’ number. During their only season series (which took place in Tucson), UCLA go the sweep and it looks like it is heading in that direction once again.

The Bruins slowly showed their mettle through the first three innings against Arizona, scoring once in each. Kylee Perez got the Bruins on the board first when Aaliyah Jordan hit one into center, bringing in Perez for the 1-0 start.

In the 2nd inning, Madeline Jelenicki blasted one over the wall to put UCLA up 2-0. That was followed up by a solo shot by Kylee Perez, making it 3-0.

Then the Bruins brought the pain in the bottom of the 5th when EPSNW Player of the Year Rachel Garcia hit one out towards Sunset Blvd. with one on, making it 5-0 UCLA. Jelenicki matched that a few bats later as she also sent one over the wall with a runner on base making it 7-0. Arizona managed to score one in the top of the 7th, but it was not enough as the Bruins’ 12-hit performance showed just how serious they were.

Speaking of Garcia, in addition to her outstanding batting performance, she held Arizona to one hit, one walk and sat down eight Wildcats with strikeouts. This win upped her record on the season to 26-3. Beauty.

Next: UCLA Football: Why UCLA will not start out as hot as Oregon under Kelly

After that barrage, UCLA goes up 1-0 in the best-of-three, with game 2 tomorrow at 6 p.m. at Easton Stadium (ESPN2). If the Bruins win that game, they head to the Women’s College World Series next week in Oklahoma City. I guess the only left to say is, “Go Bruins!”