The start of the NCAA Super Regionals went well for the UCLA Bruins. UCLA smacked around UCF 9-1 in just five innings to take game one. UCLA needed just five hits to score the nine runs but the Bruins cruised to the game one victory.
With the win, the Bruins are 51-8 on the season and have now won four in a row. Despite the final score, UCF kept it close for most of the game. UCLA scored six runs in the fifth inning to bring the run-rule into effect, with Rylee Slimp ending things with a walk-off three-run home run.
UCLA had their home run swing down pat on Friday, with Kaniya Bragg and Bri Alejandre also leaving the ballpark for the Bruins. It was a rarity that both Jordan Woolery and Megan Grant were held without a hit. Woolery’s batting average dropped to .497 after 0-3 performance. Grant drew three walks, not registering an official at bat in the game.
Taylor Tinsley went all five innings for the Bruins, giving up three hits and one run while striking out two. The win was Tinsley’s 31st of the season, as she’s sporting a 3.00 earned run average in 208 innings.
UCLA took advantage of UCF’s mistakes, getting hit by three pitches and taking advantage of two errors. The Bruins will get another crack at the Knights Saturday night, with first pitch set for 7:00pm at Easton Stadium.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: No. 8 UCLA softball takes game one of Super Regionals 9-1 over UCF
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
