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LOS ANGELES - The top-ranked Bruins exploded for three runs in the third and five runs in the fourth to post their 11th comeback victory of the season, as UCLA defeated Oregon, 8-3, on Saturday at Easton Stadium.
UCLA (36-2, 10-1 Pac-12) had nine hits from seven different players, as senior Taylor Pack and junior Bubba Nickles each produced two-hit contests.
In the circle, redshirt junior Rachel Garcia improved to 16-0 on the season, striking out eight in a complete-game effort and allowing three runs, eight hits and three walks. She had 1-2-3 frames in the second and fourth and two strikeouts in each of the last three innings.
Oregon (17-20, 2-9 Pac-12) scored in the top of the first on three singles to take an early lead.
In the bottom of the third, the Bruins opened the inning with a single to center by senior Paige Halstead and a bunt hit from sophomore Kinsley Washington. With junior Jacqui Prober running for Halstead, both runners moved up on a sacrifice by freshman Kelli Godin. Then sophomore Briana Perez reached on an error, allowing Prober to score and even the game. Nickles followed with a single through the 5-6 hole to plate Washington and Perez to put the Bruins ahead 3-1.
In the fourth, the Bruins batted around. Freshman Colleen Sullivan drew a leadoff walk, and was pinch-run for by senior Danae Blodgett, who advanced to second on a wild pitch. Halstead got on via a walk, and one out later, Godin reached on a sacrifice bunt attempt, as an Oregon error allowed Blodgett to score to make it 4-1. A Perez single to right-center brought home Halstead to increase the margin to 5-1, while a Nickles sacrifice fly to center brought home Godin to make it 6-1. Pack drove in the Bruins' seventh run on an RBI single to score Perez, while an RBI single by redshirt sophomore Aaliyah Jordan brought home Pack to put UCLA up 8-1.
Oregon scored twice in the fifth, but would fall by five.
The rubber match of the three-game series is on Sunday at 1 p.m. The contest will be televised on ESPN2.
LOS ANGELES - The top-ranked Bruins exploded for three runs in the third and five runs in the fourth to post their 11th comeback victory of the season, as UCLA defeated Oregon, 8-3, on Saturday at Easton Stadium.
UCLA (36-2, 10-1 Pac-12) had nine hits from seven different players, as senior Taylor Pack and junior Bubba Nickles each produced two-hit contests.
In the circle, redshirt junior Rachel Garcia improved to 16-0 on the season, striking out eight in a complete-game effort and allowing three runs, eight hits and three walks. She had 1-2-3 frames in the second and fourth and two strikeouts in each of the last three innings.
Oregon (17-20, 2-9 Pac-12) scored in the top of the first on three singles to take an early lead.
In the bottom of the third, the Bruins opened the inning with a single to center by senior Paige Halstead and a bunt hit from sophomore Kinsley Washington. With junior Jacqui Prober running for Halstead, both runners moved up on a sacrifice by freshman Kelli Godin. Then sophomore Briana Perez reached on an error, allowing Prober to score and even the game. Nickles followed with a single through the 5-6 hole to plate Washington and Perez to put the Bruins ahead 3-1.
In the fourth, the Bruins batted around. Freshman Colleen Sullivan drew a leadoff walk, and was pinch-run for by senior Danae Blodgett, who advanced to second on a wild pitch. Halstead got on via a walk, and one out later, Godin reached on a sacrifice bunt attempt, as an Oregon error allowed Blodgett to score to make it 4-1. A Perez single to right-center brought home Halstead to increase the margin to 5-1, while a Nickles sacrifice fly to center brought home Godin to make it 6-1. Pack drove in the Bruins' seventh run on an RBI single to score Perez, while an RBI single by redshirt sophomore Aaliyah Jordan brought home Pack to put UCLA up 8-1.
Oregon scored twice in the fifth, but would fall by five.
The rubber match of the three-game series is on Sunday at 1 p.m. The contest will be televised on ESPN2.