UCLA
Idaho State
Sixth-Ranked Bruins Rally Past Idaho State in Season Opener
February 06, 2015 | Softball
UCLA Softball Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
2015 UCLA Softball Schedule | PDF Schedule
LOS ANGELES - After falling behind 3-1, the sixth-ranked Bruins rallied with 12 unanswered runs, including nine in the sixth without making an out, as UCLA won its 2015 season opener over Idaho State 13-3 on Thursday at Easton Stadium.
The Bruins pounded out 14 hits, with junior Allexis Bennett accounting for three and senior Ally Carda and sophomore Delaney Spaulding recording two apiece. In all, 10 players notched hits, as Carda, senior Stephany LaRosa and sophomore Jelly Felix each homered.
In the circle, Carda picked up the win in relief, tossing 2 1/3 hitless innings with six strikeouts and one walk. Freshman Johanna Grauer started and gave up three runs (one earned), four hits and three walks in 2 1/3 frames with two strikeouts. Freshman Selina Ta'amilo tossed 1 1/3 innings of shutout relief, fanning one with one walk and two hits allowed.
The Bruins scored the game's first run in the second inning. Sophomore Gabrielle Maurice drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice by junior Mysha Sataraka, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored one batter later on an RBI single to right by Bennett.
Idaho State came right back with three in the third. Kacie Burnett led off with a double and Micheala Taylor walked. After Vicky Galasso earned a second chance after a misplayed foul ball behind the plate by LaRosa, the Bengal doubled to the left-field wall to score both runners and give Idaho State the lead. Maddy Hickman followed with a single to center and a Hailey Breakwell sacrifice fly to left gave the Bengals their third run.
The Bruins got one back in the third, as LaRosa launched a homer to left to get the home team within one at 3-2. In the fourth, Carda put UCLA up for good. With one out, Bennett reached on an infield single, stole second and came home on the senior's home run to left to make it 4-3 Bruins.
UCLA invoked the mercy rule with nine runs in the sixth without making an out. Spaulding doubled to right-center to start the inning and moved to third when a fly ball to left was dropped by Burnett, allowing LaRosa to reach second. With sophomore Robyn Corruth running for LaRosa, junior Brittany Moeai posted a pinch-hit single to left to score Spaulding to make it 5-3. Maurice was hit by a pitch to load the bases and a wild pitch brought in Corruth with the Bruins' sixth run.
Sataraka followed with a single up the middle to plate Moeai and Maurice to make it 8-3. Back-to-back infield singles for senior Gracie Goulder and Bennett loaded the bases for Carda, who drew a walk to force home Sataraka with UCLA's ninth run. Felix then ended the festivities with a long homer to left-center to send the Bruins off in grand style with the 10-run win.
The Bruins are back in action on Friday with two more games at Easton Stadium, taking on 24th-ranked Texas A&M at 3:30 p.m. and #21 Notre Dame at 6 p.m. Free audio and live stats will be available for both contests at UCLABruins.com.
