The No. 8 seeded UCLA softball team battled South Carolina in Game Three of the Los Angeles Regionals at Easton Stadium and advanced with a 7-2 win on Saturday.
The Bruins were coming off of a 12-11 shootout against California Baptist on Friday, but the defensive staff arose to the challenge against the Gamecocks. UCLA’s mound was manned by senior right-handed pitcher Taylor Tinsley for the entirety of the game and allowed seven hits, a walk and a hit by a pitch for two-runs, while striking out six batters.
South Carolina strikes first
Both team’s batters struggled to rally in the first, but the Gamecocks started the top of the second off with a homer to left field give them an early lead.
UCLA punches back
The Bruins responded quickly in the bottom of the second with six-runs that were started with a two-run home run struck by freshman infielder Bri Alejandre. Shortly after, junior utility Soo-Jin Berry helped redshirt junior catcher Alexis Ramirez and sophomore infielder Kaniya Bragg cross home plate with a double to right center. Berry would cross home plate a bit later as part of senior utility Megan Grant’s two-run homer at the end of the second.
South Carolina gets another
In the top of the third, Tinsley allowed her fourth hit of the day for a home run to right field, which put the Gamecocks down by four-runs entering the fourth.
Adding one more in the fifth
UCLA was unable to put up any runs in the fourth, but redshirt freshman infielder Aleena Garcia added the Bruins final run of the game with a homer to center field in the bottom of the fifth.
No more hits
Tinsley and the defensive team allowed no more hits in the final two innings to keep the Gamecocks at just two-runs. In fact, the only Southern Carolina batter to get on base was in the top of the seventh after Tinsley hit them with a pitch.
UCLA will play South Carolina again in Game Six of the Los Angeles Regionals on Sunday after the Gamecocks defeated Cal State Fullerton late Saturday in Game Five. The Bruins Sunday matchup will have a start time of 4:30 p.m. PT.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: No. 1 UCLA baseball take down South Carolina in NCAA Regionals
Reporting by Ryan Lorenz, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
