Friday, March 10
Berkeley, CA
2:00 PM
UCLA
at
California
Alexis Ramirez
No. 2 Bruins Open Pac-12 Play at California
March 09, 2023 | Softball
LOS ANGELES – The No. 2 UCLA softball team begins its Pac-12 Conference schedule this weekend with a three-game series versus California in Berkeley at Levine-Fricke Field, beginning Friday, March 10 at 2 p.m. (PT). Games two and three on Saturday and Sunday will begin at 1 p.m. and 12 p.m., respectively. All games can be viewed on the Cal Live Stream.
Key Notes About UCLA
• The Bruins closed out their preseason tournament schedule with a 23-1 record. UCLA posted six wins over ranked opponents, including three within the NFCA poll's top-10. The Bruins' lone loss came in a 14-0 decision in five innings versus No. 2 Oklahoma at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, Calif. on Feb. 26.
• The Bruins have returned two of their top five main contributors in the lineup and their ace from last season's squad. UCLA went 51-10 last year, advancing to the Women's College World Series for a seventh consecutive season and finishing t-3rd. Veteran players back this season include seventh year Aaliyah Jordan and redshirt seniors Megan Faraimo, Anna Vines and Kelli Godin. All four players helped the Bruins win their most recent NCAA Championship in 2019. UCLA has also returned redshirt juniors Maya Brady, Seneca Curo and sophomore Savannah Pola.
• UCLA added 11 total newcomers to the roster this season for its most in program history (previously was eight). Four of the new Bruins are transfers: Janelle Meoño (OF) and Sharlize Palacios (C) from Arizona and Brooke Yanez (LHP) and Rachel Cid (INF) from Oregon. The seven freshmen include utilities Kennedy Powell and Megan Grant, pitcher Taylor Tinsley, catcher Alexis Ramirez and infielders Rylee Pinedo, Jordan Woolery and Ramsey Suarez.
Last Time Out
• Jordan Woolery went 2-for-3 with two extra-base hits to lead UCLA to a 4-0 victory over Howard on Tuesday, March 7.
• The freshman Woolery hit a towering home run that cleared Easton Stadium's left field scoreboard.
• Woolery later hit a double in the gap, and her pinch runner came around to score.
• Freshman Taylor Tinsley picked up her fourth win of the season, throwing 5.0 innings of shutout ball with seven strikeouts.
Series History: California
• UCLA leads the all-time series, 54-8.
• The Bruins swept last year's season series, out-scoring the Golden Bears 23-4 over the three games to close the 2022 regular season.
• UCLA has won 12 straight games against California (tied, 3-3 on March 21, 2016).
• UCLA has not lost to California since the 2013 season.
Brady's Hot Start
Maya Brady leads the team and is tied for third in the country with 35 hits entering week five (.486 batting average). Brady is also tops on the team in home runs (7), runs batted in (28), runs scored (29), slugging percentage (.931) and stolen bases (5). The last time a Bruin led the team in both slugging percentage and stolen bases in a single season was Katie Schroeder in 2009 (.684 SLG / 19 SB). Brady already has two multi-homer games this season, matching her total entering 2023.
Brady Shatters 24-Year-Old Record
Maya Brady broke a 24-year-old record during UCLA's season-opening Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament. The Thousand Oaks native recorded 11 consecutive base hits across four games, breaking the mark of 10 consecutive hits formerly held by UCLA legends Lisa Fernandez (March 1993) and Stacey Nuveman (Feb. 1999). In total, Brady opened the first week of 2023 going 13-for-16 with 13 RBI and four home runs to earn her Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I NFCA Player of the Week honors for the first time in her career. She is the 17th Bruin to receive the award.
Freshman Slugging Duo
Freshmen Megan Grant and Jordan Woolery have been anchors in the heart of the Bruins' lineup this season, hitting third and fourth, respectively, in 14 of UCLA's 24 games this season. The duo has combined for a .341 batting average and rank second and third on the team in runs batted in behind Maya Brady. Entering week five, Megan Grant's 26 runs batted in lead all freshmen in the country and are 11th overall. Woolery's seven doubles are tied for fifth amongst freshmen in the country.
Another Notable Frosh: Freshman Kennedy Powell has started 20 of UCLA's last 21 games. Nineteen of those starts have been in left field. Powell ranks fourth on the team with a .377 average and .421 on-base percentage.
Back to Her Roots
Maya Brady has alternated between center field and shortstop this season. Brady has started 10 of the last 11 games at shortstop due to a left shoulder injury sustained by utility Seneca Curo. Brady grew up playing the position with her travel ball team OC Batbusters Stith.
Consistency Behind the Dish
Sharlize Palacios has been an x-factor as UCLA's primary starting catcher. So far this season, the Arizona transfer has thrown out five of seven runners attempting to steal. Palacios has also provided power to the Bruins' lineup, ranking second on the team with five home runs behind only Brady. Last weekend at the Judi Garman Classic, Palacios hit the fifth grand slam of her career in a 3-for-4 day, including a double, against Michigan on March 4. Palacios has recorded a base hit in each of UCLA's last four games and has nine RBI in that stretch.
Pola Setting the Table
Sophomore Savannah Pola has hit leadoff in all but one of UCLA's 24 games this season. An All-Pac-12 Freshman selection last season, Pola ranks second on the squad with a .423 batting average and seven doubles in 2023. When batting leadoff to begin a game, Pola has reached base on 13 of 23 chances (.522 on-base percentage).
Faraimo Inferno
Megan Faraimo's 11 wins are tied for first in the nation entering week five. Her 105 strikeouts are second in the country, trailing only Alabama's Montana Fouts. Faraimo has been utilized in a reliever role frequently this season. Four of her 11 winning decisions have come in relief.
Wherer the Bruins Stack Up Nationally (entering week five)
• In the circle, Megan Faraimo is tied for first with 11 wins and is second with 105 strikeouts
• Megan Grant leads all freshmen in the nation with 26 RBI.
• Maya Brady ranks second in the nation in total bases (67), t-3rd in hits (35) and is seventh in RBI (28).
• Savannah Pola and Jordan Woolery are tied for 19th with seven doubles.
• As as team, UCLA ranks second in the nation with 206 hits and tied for seventh with 156 runs scored.
Climbing UCLA's All-Time Rankings
• With her four stolen bases at the Judi Garman Classic, Kelli Godin moved into third place on UCLA's all-time stolen bases list with 65 on 73 attempts. She passed Allexis Bennett (2013-16) who had 61 stolen bases. Godin needs eight more to tie her former teammate Briana Perez for second on the list (73).
• Megan Faraimo's 11 wins to begin 2023 pushed her career record to 83-14. She is currently ninth on UCLA's career wins list. Faraimo passed Ally Carda (2012-15) and former teammate Rachel Garcia (2017-21) on the Bruins' career strikeouts list earlier this season. Faraimo has now struck out 877 batters and is 75 shy of tying Debbie Doom (1982-85) for third all-time with 952.
Back-to-Back No-Hitters
Taylor Tinsley and Megan Faraimo tossed back-to-back no-hitters in week one of the season. Tinsley no-hit CSU Bakersfield in her first career start on Friday, Feb. 11. Tinsley joins Amanda Freed (1999-2002) as the only Bruins to throw a no-hitter in their first career appearance in the circle. Freed no-hit Santa Clara in her pitching debut on Feb. 5, 1999. Tinsley's performance marked the 115th no-hitter in UCLA history. Her final line included four strikeouts and no walks nor any errors. The Roadrunners' first and only baserunner came in the fifth inning via catcher's interference.
The very next day, Faraimo threw the sixth solo no-hitter of her career. The Bruins last threw no-hitters in back-to-back games in 2022. Faraimo and Lauren Shaw combined for a perfect game versus Pennsylvania on March 10 and Faraimo struck out 15 consecutive Roadrunners in her perfecto against CSU Bakersfield on March 11.
USA Softball Player of the Year Watch List
Senior Megan Faraimo and juniors Maya Brady and Sharlize Palacios were selected to the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List. Brady, a utility out of Thousand Oaks, Calif., was second on the squad with 15 home runs in 2022, two of which came on June 6 versus No. 1 Oklahoma at the Women's College World Series. Reigning Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year Megan Faraimo tossed two solo perfect games (and one combined with Lauren Shaw) and led the conference in strikeouts (292) in 2022. Palacios helped Arizona to the WCWS as the team's starting catcher with 20 homers last season.
Preseason All-Pac-12 Team
Five UCLA players were named to the 2023 Preseason All-Pac-12 Team on Feb. 1: Maya Brady, Megan Faraimo, Aaliyah Jordan, Sharlize Palacios and Brooke Yanez. UCLA paced the conference with five of the 19 named to the team with the next-closest school being Washington with four selections.
Pac-12 Favorites
The Bruins were picked to finish first in the annual Pac-12 Softball Coaches' Preseason Poll. UCLA received eight of nine possible first-place votes in the preseason poll. Washington was the only other institution to receive a first-place vote. UCLA garnered a total of 64 points to secure its spot atop the preseason coaches poll for the third consecutive season and league-record 13th time overall (since 1999). The Bruins have not finished below third in the conference since 2013 (t-5th).
Key Notes About UCLA
• The Bruins closed out their preseason tournament schedule with a 23-1 record. UCLA posted six wins over ranked opponents, including three within the NFCA poll's top-10. The Bruins' lone loss came in a 14-0 decision in five innings versus No. 2 Oklahoma at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, Calif. on Feb. 26.
• The Bruins have returned two of their top five main contributors in the lineup and their ace from last season's squad. UCLA went 51-10 last year, advancing to the Women's College World Series for a seventh consecutive season and finishing t-3rd. Veteran players back this season include seventh year Aaliyah Jordan and redshirt seniors Megan Faraimo, Anna Vines and Kelli Godin. All four players helped the Bruins win their most recent NCAA Championship in 2019. UCLA has also returned redshirt juniors Maya Brady, Seneca Curo and sophomore Savannah Pola.
• UCLA added 11 total newcomers to the roster this season for its most in program history (previously was eight). Four of the new Bruins are transfers: Janelle Meoño (OF) and Sharlize Palacios (C) from Arizona and Brooke Yanez (LHP) and Rachel Cid (INF) from Oregon. The seven freshmen include utilities Kennedy Powell and Megan Grant, pitcher Taylor Tinsley, catcher Alexis Ramirez and infielders Rylee Pinedo, Jordan Woolery and Ramsey Suarez.
Last Time Out
• Jordan Woolery went 2-for-3 with two extra-base hits to lead UCLA to a 4-0 victory over Howard on Tuesday, March 7.
• The freshman Woolery hit a towering home run that cleared Easton Stadium's left field scoreboard.
• Woolery later hit a double in the gap, and her pinch runner came around to score.
• Freshman Taylor Tinsley picked up her fourth win of the season, throwing 5.0 innings of shutout ball with seven strikeouts.
Series History: California
• UCLA leads the all-time series, 54-8.
• The Bruins swept last year's season series, out-scoring the Golden Bears 23-4 over the three games to close the 2022 regular season.
• UCLA has won 12 straight games against California (tied, 3-3 on March 21, 2016).
• UCLA has not lost to California since the 2013 season.
Brady's Hot Start
Maya Brady leads the team and is tied for third in the country with 35 hits entering week five (.486 batting average). Brady is also tops on the team in home runs (7), runs batted in (28), runs scored (29), slugging percentage (.931) and stolen bases (5). The last time a Bruin led the team in both slugging percentage and stolen bases in a single season was Katie Schroeder in 2009 (.684 SLG / 19 SB). Brady already has two multi-homer games this season, matching her total entering 2023.
Brady Shatters 24-Year-Old Record
Maya Brady broke a 24-year-old record during UCLA's season-opening Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament. The Thousand Oaks native recorded 11 consecutive base hits across four games, breaking the mark of 10 consecutive hits formerly held by UCLA legends Lisa Fernandez (March 1993) and Stacey Nuveman (Feb. 1999). In total, Brady opened the first week of 2023 going 13-for-16 with 13 RBI and four home runs to earn her Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I NFCA Player of the Week honors for the first time in her career. She is the 17th Bruin to receive the award.
Freshman Slugging Duo
Freshmen Megan Grant and Jordan Woolery have been anchors in the heart of the Bruins' lineup this season, hitting third and fourth, respectively, in 14 of UCLA's 24 games this season. The duo has combined for a .341 batting average and rank second and third on the team in runs batted in behind Maya Brady. Entering week five, Megan Grant's 26 runs batted in lead all freshmen in the country and are 11th overall. Woolery's seven doubles are tied for fifth amongst freshmen in the country.
Another Notable Frosh: Freshman Kennedy Powell has started 20 of UCLA's last 21 games. Nineteen of those starts have been in left field. Powell ranks fourth on the team with a .377 average and .421 on-base percentage.
Back to Her Roots
Maya Brady has alternated between center field and shortstop this season. Brady has started 10 of the last 11 games at shortstop due to a left shoulder injury sustained by utility Seneca Curo. Brady grew up playing the position with her travel ball team OC Batbusters Stith.
Consistency Behind the Dish
Sharlize Palacios has been an x-factor as UCLA's primary starting catcher. So far this season, the Arizona transfer has thrown out five of seven runners attempting to steal. Palacios has also provided power to the Bruins' lineup, ranking second on the team with five home runs behind only Brady. Last weekend at the Judi Garman Classic, Palacios hit the fifth grand slam of her career in a 3-for-4 day, including a double, against Michigan on March 4. Palacios has recorded a base hit in each of UCLA's last four games and has nine RBI in that stretch.
Pola Setting the Table
Sophomore Savannah Pola has hit leadoff in all but one of UCLA's 24 games this season. An All-Pac-12 Freshman selection last season, Pola ranks second on the squad with a .423 batting average and seven doubles in 2023. When batting leadoff to begin a game, Pola has reached base on 13 of 23 chances (.522 on-base percentage).
Faraimo Inferno
Megan Faraimo's 11 wins are tied for first in the nation entering week five. Her 105 strikeouts are second in the country, trailing only Alabama's Montana Fouts. Faraimo has been utilized in a reliever role frequently this season. Four of her 11 winning decisions have come in relief.
Wherer the Bruins Stack Up Nationally (entering week five)
• In the circle, Megan Faraimo is tied for first with 11 wins and is second with 105 strikeouts
• Megan Grant leads all freshmen in the nation with 26 RBI.
• Maya Brady ranks second in the nation in total bases (67), t-3rd in hits (35) and is seventh in RBI (28).
• Savannah Pola and Jordan Woolery are tied for 19th with seven doubles.
• As as team, UCLA ranks second in the nation with 206 hits and tied for seventh with 156 runs scored.
Climbing UCLA's All-Time Rankings
• With her four stolen bases at the Judi Garman Classic, Kelli Godin moved into third place on UCLA's all-time stolen bases list with 65 on 73 attempts. She passed Allexis Bennett (2013-16) who had 61 stolen bases. Godin needs eight more to tie her former teammate Briana Perez for second on the list (73).
• Megan Faraimo's 11 wins to begin 2023 pushed her career record to 83-14. She is currently ninth on UCLA's career wins list. Faraimo passed Ally Carda (2012-15) and former teammate Rachel Garcia (2017-21) on the Bruins' career strikeouts list earlier this season. Faraimo has now struck out 877 batters and is 75 shy of tying Debbie Doom (1982-85) for third all-time with 952.
Back-to-Back No-Hitters
Taylor Tinsley and Megan Faraimo tossed back-to-back no-hitters in week one of the season. Tinsley no-hit CSU Bakersfield in her first career start on Friday, Feb. 11. Tinsley joins Amanda Freed (1999-2002) as the only Bruins to throw a no-hitter in their first career appearance in the circle. Freed no-hit Santa Clara in her pitching debut on Feb. 5, 1999. Tinsley's performance marked the 115th no-hitter in UCLA history. Her final line included four strikeouts and no walks nor any errors. The Roadrunners' first and only baserunner came in the fifth inning via catcher's interference.
The very next day, Faraimo threw the sixth solo no-hitter of her career. The Bruins last threw no-hitters in back-to-back games in 2022. Faraimo and Lauren Shaw combined for a perfect game versus Pennsylvania on March 10 and Faraimo struck out 15 consecutive Roadrunners in her perfecto against CSU Bakersfield on March 11.
USA Softball Player of the Year Watch List
Senior Megan Faraimo and juniors Maya Brady and Sharlize Palacios were selected to the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List. Brady, a utility out of Thousand Oaks, Calif., was second on the squad with 15 home runs in 2022, two of which came on June 6 versus No. 1 Oklahoma at the Women's College World Series. Reigning Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year Megan Faraimo tossed two solo perfect games (and one combined with Lauren Shaw) and led the conference in strikeouts (292) in 2022. Palacios helped Arizona to the WCWS as the team's starting catcher with 20 homers last season.
Preseason All-Pac-12 Team
Five UCLA players were named to the 2023 Preseason All-Pac-12 Team on Feb. 1: Maya Brady, Megan Faraimo, Aaliyah Jordan, Sharlize Palacios and Brooke Yanez. UCLA paced the conference with five of the 19 named to the team with the next-closest school being Washington with four selections.
Pac-12 Favorites
The Bruins were picked to finish first in the annual Pac-12 Softball Coaches' Preseason Poll. UCLA received eight of nine possible first-place votes in the preseason poll. Washington was the only other institution to receive a first-place vote. UCLA garnered a total of 64 points to secure its spot atop the preseason coaches poll for the third consecutive season and league-record 13th time overall (since 1999). The Bruins have not finished below third in the conference since 2013 (t-5th).
Players Mentioned
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C
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