LOS ANGELES – It was the clutch hitting of freshman Kennedy Powell that led the No. 2 UCLA softball team to a 3-2 victory over Liberty at Easton Stadium Tuesday night.
After three scoreless innings, Powell recorded a go-ahead, RBI base hit to center field in the fifth to score pinch runner Lauren Hatch from second base. It was Powell's second hit of the night. Powell is now 6-for-13 in the first six games of her collegiate career.
The Bruins (7-0) tallied eight total hits, all of which were singles. UCLA put up a two spot in the bottom half of the first inning to begin the night. Catcher Sharlize Palacios opened the scoring with an RBI single down the left field line. Two batters later, with the bases loaded, Rachel Cid walked on four straight pitches to bring home the next run.
Redshirt senior Megan Faraimo earned her fourth win in as many starts and tied a season high in strikeouts with 13. Liberty (1-5) scored its only runs in the second inning on a game-tying, two-run homer by Raye Green. After allowing two base hits to begin the third, Faraimo retired 12 consecutive batters.
UCLA put the game away with some clutch defense. After the Flames' Rachel Craine reached by way of an error by Maya Brady at shortstop, Cid fielded a bunt at third base and threw to second to nail the lead out and prevent the tying run from reaching scoring position. Two pitches later, Faraimo induced a 1-6-3 double play to end the game.
The Bruins travel to Clearwater, Fla., next week to compete in the fourth-annual TaxAct Clearwater Invitational. UCLA will play a total of five games, including three against top-15 teams, beginning Thursday, Feb. 16 and ending Sunday, Feb. 19. All five games can be watched on the ESPN Family of Networks.
After three scoreless innings, Powell recorded a go-ahead, RBI base hit to center field in the fifth to score pinch runner Lauren Hatch from second base. It was Powell's second hit of the night. Powell is now 6-for-13 in the first six games of her collegiate career.
The Bruins (7-0) tallied eight total hits, all of which were singles. UCLA put up a two spot in the bottom half of the first inning to begin the night. Catcher Sharlize Palacios opened the scoring with an RBI single down the left field line. Two batters later, with the bases loaded, Rachel Cid walked on four straight pitches to bring home the next run.
Redshirt senior Megan Faraimo earned her fourth win in as many starts and tied a season high in strikeouts with 13. Liberty (1-5) scored its only runs in the second inning on a game-tying, two-run homer by Raye Green. After allowing two base hits to begin the third, Faraimo retired 12 consecutive batters.
UCLA put the game away with some clutch defense. After the Flames' Rachel Craine reached by way of an error by Maya Brady at shortstop, Cid fielded a bunt at third base and threw to second to nail the lead out and prevent the tying run from reaching scoring position. Two pitches later, Faraimo induced a 1-6-3 double play to end the game.
The Bruins travel to Clearwater, Fla., next week to compete in the fourth-annual TaxAct Clearwater Invitational. UCLA will play a total of five games, including three against top-15 teams, beginning Thursday, Feb. 16 and ending Sunday, Feb. 19. All five games can be watched on the ESPN Family of Networks.