The UCLA Bruins softball team, ranked sixth nationally, lost two games at the Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational in Florida on Saturday. The Bruins were defeated by No. 3 Tennessee with a score of 11-0 in five innings and by No. 7 Florida State, 11-7.
UCLA’s record at the invitational dropped to 1-3, bringing their season record to 6-3. Senior Megan Grant reached base five times out of seven plate appearances during the day, including three walks, one hit-by-pitch, and a home run. Grant currently leads the team with a .735 on-base percentage after nine games, and nine of her eleven hits have been home runs.
In the first game against Tennessee, freshman pitcher Natalie Cable held the Volunteers scoreless for two innings before Tennessee scored eight runs in the third inning. Elsa Morrison contributed with a two-RBI triple, while Taelyn Holley and Maddi Rutan hit consecutive home runs later in the inning. Tennessee added three more runs in the fourth inning with back-to-back home runs from Emma Clarke and Alannah Leach.
UCLA managed only one hit in this game—a leadoff double by sophomore Kaniya Bragg in the second inning. Erin Nuwer of Tennessee pitched a complete-game shutout, allowing just one hit and recording four strikeouts for her fifth win of the season.
In their second game against Florida State, Grant opened scoring with her ninth home run of the season. However, Florida State responded quickly by scoring three runs in their half of the first inning off UCLA starter Taylor Tinsley. The Seminoles extended their lead with four more runs in the second inning through extra-base hits, including two-run homers from Isa Torres and Jaysoni Beachum.
Florida State continued to build their lead in the third inning with another four-run effort that included a two-run double from Marin Heller and Beachum’s second home run of the day. This put UCLA behind 11-2.
UCLA had its most productive offensive showing during a four-run fourth inning featuring RBI singles from freshman Jolyna Lamar and sophomore transfer Mia Phillips—Phillips’ first hit and RBI as a Bruin. Aleena Garcia contributed an RBI via sacrifice fly while Jordan Woolery drove in another run on a fielder’s choice.
Woolery added an RBI single up the middle in the sixth inning to bring UCLA’s final run total to seven.
UCLA will finish its participation at the Clearwater Invitational tomorrow morning against No. 12 LSU at 7 a.m. Pacific Time. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.
