The UCLA softball team rallied on April 14, scoring 11 consecutive runs to secure a 13-6 nonconference win over California Baptist at Easton Stadium.
This game saw the Bruins, ranked No. 9, improve their record to 38-5. The team hit six home runs during the contest, including two by Jordan Woolery and one each from Rylee Slimp, Alexis Ramirez, Aleena Garcia, and Jolyna Lamar. Woolery went three-for-three at the plate with three runs scored and two RBIs, increasing her NCAA-leading total to 86 for the season. She now has a total of 25 home runs after achieving her sixth career multi-homer game.
With these performances, UCLA has reached a season total of 140 home runs—just seven short of tying the Big Ten Conference single-season record set by Ohio State last year. The offensive surge was highlighted in the bottom of the sixth inning when pinch hitter Soo-Jin Berry led off with a single and Lamar followed with an RBI double that gave UCLA its first lead at 7-6. Kaniya Bragg added two more insurance runs before Garcia capped off the inning with a three-run homer.
Garcia also contributed defensively in the sixth inning by making a spinning throw to first base for an out. Earlier in the fourth inning, Lamar’s home run tied the game and marked her tenth of the season—a milestone as seven Bruins have now reached double-digit homers this year for the first time in program history.
Starting pitcher Taylor Tinsley retired thirteen straight batters to finish out her complete-game victory. Tinsley allowed six earned runs on six hits and one walk while striking out three batters and improved her record to 21-3 for this season.
UCLA will aim for another midweek win when they face Long Beach State on Wednesday afternoon at LBSU Softball Complex.
