Bruins Fall to Utes, 7-4, in Pac-12 Championship Game

Saturday, May 13

Tucson, AZ

7:00 PM

UCLA

52-5

Utah

37-13

Utah

UCLA

Photo by: Mike Christy / Arizona Athletics

Bruins Fall to Utes, 7-4, in Pac-12 Championship Game

May 14, 2023 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season Stats (PDF)

TUCSON, Ariz. – The No. 1 seed UCLA softball team fell to No. 3 seed Utah, 7-4, in the Pac-12 Tournament Championship game at Hillenbrand Stadium Saturday night.

The Bruins (52-5, 21-3) were tied 4-4 heading into the sixth inning when the Utes (37-13, 15-9) put up a three spot off three hits, including a two-run homer by pinch hitter Halle Morris for her first longball of the season.

UCLA loaded the bases and brought the go-ahead run up to the plate in the bottom half in the form of Aaliyah Jordan. Jordan smacked the first pitch she saw for long flyout to left field.

Jordan scored the first runs of the game in the first inning on a two-run shot for her fifth homer of the year. Utah's Karlie Davis answered with a solo homer in the top of the second to cut the Bruins' lead to 2-1.

Redshirt senior Megan Faraimo surrendered four runs on eight hits in her 3.2 innings. The Utes broke through on Faraimo in the fourth inning. Two infield hits sparked a Utah rally. Left fielder Haley Denning brought the two runners home and tied up the game on a double down the left field line. A walk, hit by pitch and a single to left field gave the Utes their first lead of the game and knocked Faraimo out of the ballgame.

Faraimo would earn a no decision, and as a result, saw her streak of 16 straight appearances with a win snapped.

UCLA tied up the game in the bottom half of the fourth. Janelle Meoño got on base first with a hit to shortstop that resulted in two more bases thanks to an errant throw by Davison. Maya Brady walked for a third time in three plate appearances, this time intentionally, bringing up Jordan Woolery. With two outs, the freshman first baseman dropped a line drive just inches away from the left field foul line to score Meoño.

Utah recaptured the lead for good on a double by Hailee White who entered the game as a substitute to an injured Julia Jimenez in third inning.

UCLA awaits its seeding for the NCAA Tournament which will be announced during the NCAA DI Softball Championship Selection Show on Sunday, May 14 at 4 p.m. (PT) on ESPN2.