Sunday, May 4
Los Angeles, CA
11:00 AM (PT)
UCLA
47-9, 17-5
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Northwestern
29-17-1, 16-7
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Northwestern
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UCLA
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Junior RHP Taylor Tinsley
Photo by: Ross Turteltaub
No. 6 UCLA Falls in Series Finale to Northwestern, 5-3
May 04, 2025 | Softball
LOS ANGELES – The No. 6-ranked UCLA softball team dropped the series finale versus Northwestern, 5-3, to close the regular season at Easton Stadium Sunday afternoon.
The Bruins (47-9, 17-5) wrapped up their first season in the Big Ten Conference with a second-place finish. UCLA will compete in next week's Big Ten Softball Tournament as the No. 2 seed and play the winner between No. 7 seed Washington and No. 10 seed Indiana on Thursday, May 8 at 10:30 a.m. (PT) at Bittinger Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.
The Wildcats (29-17-1, 16-7 Big Ten) scored four unanswered runs in the top of the sixth inning to overcome a two-run deficit and hand the Bruins their second series loss of the season. Northwestern starting pitcher Lauren Boyd replicated her game one performance with another complete-game victory. Boyd allowed just four hits and only one for extra-bases to the UCLA lineup.
Junior right-handed pitcher Taylor Tinsley earned the start in the circle. After surrendering one run in the first inning off three singles, Tinsley did not allow a run for the remainder of her outing and grew stronger as the game went on. Tinsley went on a stretch of four straight scoreless innings and blanked the Wildcats in the seventh after re-entering the contest.
The Bruins scored all three of their runs in the bottom of the third. A double to center field by Jessica Clements and a bunt single by Savannah Pola sparked the rally. Junior Jordan Woolery plated the first run of the game with a hard-hit ball to third base which allowed Clements to race home and slide under the tag. A four-pitch walk to the next batter Megan Grant loaded the bases for Alexis Ramirez who was coming off her first career two-homer performance from the previous game. Ramirez delivered again with a ball hit to third base that took an awkward hop and bounced into left field, scoring a pair.
Boyd did not give up a base hit for the remainder of the day after the third inning and allowed only two other baserunners, both via walk.
Newly-entered reliever Addisen Fisher was tasked with facing the top of Northwestern's lineup to open the sixth inning. Leadoff hitter Grace Nieto connected on Fisher's first delivery for a single to center field. After a force out at second base on a fielder's choice, Kelsey Nader lined another single to center to put the game-tying run aboard. Fisher induced a groundout to Savannah Pola at second base for the second out, inching closer to escaping the jam unscathed. The next batter Izzy Cunnea grounded a ball between the circle and first base; UCLA was unable to make the play while a run scored on the play to trim the lead to 3-2.
Still with two outs, Fisher walked Bridget Donahey on four straight pitches to load the bases. Catcher Lauren Sciborski collected the game-winning hit with a three-run single to center field – the third of the inning – to take a 5-3 lead. Donahey, the runner on first base, scored on a mishandle by catcher Sofia Mujica on the throw from Clements in center field.
Fisher suffered the first loss of her career as a result of the blown save opportunity, dropping her record to 16-1.
The Bruins (47-9, 17-5) wrapped up their first season in the Big Ten Conference with a second-place finish. UCLA will compete in next week's Big Ten Softball Tournament as the No. 2 seed and play the winner between No. 7 seed Washington and No. 10 seed Indiana on Thursday, May 8 at 10:30 a.m. (PT) at Bittinger Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.
The Wildcats (29-17-1, 16-7 Big Ten) scored four unanswered runs in the top of the sixth inning to overcome a two-run deficit and hand the Bruins their second series loss of the season. Northwestern starting pitcher Lauren Boyd replicated her game one performance with another complete-game victory. Boyd allowed just four hits and only one for extra-bases to the UCLA lineup.
Junior right-handed pitcher Taylor Tinsley earned the start in the circle. After surrendering one run in the first inning off three singles, Tinsley did not allow a run for the remainder of her outing and grew stronger as the game went on. Tinsley went on a stretch of four straight scoreless innings and blanked the Wildcats in the seventh after re-entering the contest.
The Bruins scored all three of their runs in the bottom of the third. A double to center field by Jessica Clements and a bunt single by Savannah Pola sparked the rally. Junior Jordan Woolery plated the first run of the game with a hard-hit ball to third base which allowed Clements to race home and slide under the tag. A four-pitch walk to the next batter Megan Grant loaded the bases for Alexis Ramirez who was coming off her first career two-homer performance from the previous game. Ramirez delivered again with a ball hit to third base that took an awkward hop and bounced into left field, scoring a pair.
Boyd did not give up a base hit for the remainder of the day after the third inning and allowed only two other baserunners, both via walk.
Newly-entered reliever Addisen Fisher was tasked with facing the top of Northwestern's lineup to open the sixth inning. Leadoff hitter Grace Nieto connected on Fisher's first delivery for a single to center field. After a force out at second base on a fielder's choice, Kelsey Nader lined another single to center to put the game-tying run aboard. Fisher induced a groundout to Savannah Pola at second base for the second out, inching closer to escaping the jam unscathed. The next batter Izzy Cunnea grounded a ball between the circle and first base; UCLA was unable to make the play while a run scored on the play to trim the lead to 3-2.
Still with two outs, Fisher walked Bridget Donahey on four straight pitches to load the bases. Catcher Lauren Sciborski collected the game-winning hit with a three-run single to center field – the third of the inning – to take a 5-3 lead. Donahey, the runner on first base, scored on a mishandle by catcher Sofia Mujica on the throw from Clements in center field.
Fisher suffered the first loss of her career as a result of the blown save opportunity, dropping her record to 16-1.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Boyd, Lauren (14-4)
L: Fisher, Addisen (16-1)
Batting:
RBI: Cunnea, Izzy 2 ; Sciborski, Lauren 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Nieto, Grace 1 ; Avvisato, Kaylie 1 ; Nader, Kelsey 1 ; Cunnea, Izzy 1 ; Donahey, Bridget 1
CS: Donahey, Bridget 1
Batting:
2B: Clements, Jessica 1
RBI: Woolery, Jordan 1 ; Ramirez, Alexis 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Clements, Jessica 1 ; Pola, Savannah 1 ; Hatch, Lauren 1
HBP: Grant, Megan 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
P/UTIL
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
C/DP
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
C/UTIL
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
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