Go Joe Bruin
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UCLA Softball takes down Arizona and are a game away from advancing

By Mike Regalado

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 21: "Joe Bruin" the mascot of the UCLA Bruins works the sidelines during a game against the Utah Utes during the first half of a college football game at Rice Eccles Stadium on November 21, 2015 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 21: "Joe Bruin" the mascot of the UCLA Bruins works the sidelines during a game against the Utah Utes during the first half of a college football game at Rice Eccles Stadium on November 21, 2015 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images) /
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The no. 1 UCLA softball team continued their run through the NCAA Tournament and took down an old rival as the Bruins beat no. 6 Arizona 6-2, leaving them one win away from the Women’s College World Series championship round.

When the Arizona and UCLA softball teams met in early May during the regular season, the Wildcats took two out of three from the Bruins. It was the only series UCLA lost all year.

RELATED: UCLA Softball Beats Minnesota behind Bubba Nickles’ Bat

On Friday afternoon, the Bruins had their revenge as they took down the Wildcats by a score of 6-2 and are now one game away from the Women’s College World Series championship round.

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This was not an easy game for UCLA. Arizona came into this contest with the ninth-best batting average in the nation (.326) and the fifth-best ERA (1.59). Their ace, Taylor McQuillin, had helped upend no. 3 Washington the day before in a 3-1 win, so this was going to be quite the pitching battle between her and UCLA’s Rachel Garcia.

Unfortunately, the Bruins’ bats had something to say about it.

UCLA and Arizona were in a tight one until the top of the sixth. After being tied 1-1, UCLA’s Malia Quarles, who came in as a pinch hitter, knocked things up a notch as she sent one flying to center field for her fifth home run of the year and giving UCLA the 2-1 lead.

The Bruins sealed things up in the top of the seventh as they scored four runs with the first of those producing the most exciting play of the game. UCLA’s Brianna Tautalafua hit a sacrifice fly to right field which gave Stevie Wisz the chance to score.

Though she hesitated to coming off third base, she ultimately decided to attempt the score. Luckily, Arizona’s catcher bobbled the ball on the throw home and just missed tagging out Wisz. At that point, the momentum was all UCLA’s.

Arizona was able to get one extra run in the bottom of the seventh, but it was not enough as the Bruins got the victory.

UCLA gets a day to rest as Saturday will be reserved for games in the losers bracket. Washington and Minnesota will play at 9 a.m. with the winner taking on no. 12 Oklahoma State at 4 p.m. The winner of that game will play UCLA on Sunday at 10 a.m.