UCLA softball comes home undefeated in tournament

The thread that bonds the UCLA softball team grew even stronger this weekend, as the Bruins went undefeated against a tournament field that featured three different top-25 opponents.

During the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, Calif., the No. 8 Bruins (16-0) built off of their walk-off victory against Robert Morris last weekend by getting a pair of walk-off victories in less than 24 hours.

Against No. 13 Oklahoma on Friday night, UCLA trailed 2-1 entering the bottom of the sixth inning. The game was reminiscent of UCLA’s bout against Robert Morris at Easton Stadium a week earlier, when the Bruins entered the bottom of the seventh with a 2-1 deficit.

Just like the Robert Morris game, UCLA came back strong in the late innings to preserve its undefeated season. In the bottom of the sixth, the Bruins tied the game at 2-2 on a pair of doubles by senior designated player Jessica Hall and sophomore first baseman Brittany Moeai.

Then, an inning later, UCLA would benefit from the same kind of luck that it received against Robert Morris. After a one-out single by junior outfielder Tara Mueller, an Oklahoma fielding error allowed junior pitcher Ally Carda to reach base safely. Freshman shortstop Delaney Spaulding then stepped to the plate and promptly laced a single into right-center field to score Mueller from second base and give the Bruins a 3-2 walk-off victory.

“(The walk-off win) instills a lot of confidence into not only me on the mound but everyone else on the team that we know we’re going to get it done somehow, some way,” said Carda, who pitched all seven innings for UCLA against Oklahoma.

Less than 24 hours later, Carda and the Bruins used the same kind of come-from-behind magic against the No. 16 Missouri Tigers. Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Bruins were down to their final out when sophomore third baseman Mysha Sataraka stepped to the plate.

With two runners on, Sataraka drove a line drive to right center field which plated the two UCLA base-runners, and gave the Bruins a 4-3 walk-off victory.

“It was all because of the two people that got on before me,” said Sataraka. “If they didn’t get on (base), my hit wouldn’t have meant anything so just props to them for starting that bottom of the seventh off.”

Just hours after the Missouri game, UCLA once again found itself trailing in its game against Maryland. This time, UCLA didn’t need late-inning dramatics to finish off the comeback. The Bruins turned a 4-2 third-inning deficit into 10-4 seventh-inning lead, thanks to a three-run home run and a run-scoring double by Sataraka. UCLA would go on to defeat Maryland, 10-5.

The UCLA hit parade would carry on into Sunday morning. In an 8:30 a.m. contest against No. 11 Nebraska, UCLA jumped out to a 6-0 lead through five innings, and finished the game with 10 team hits and a 6-2 victory. Then, hours after the Nebraska game, UCLA defeated New Mexico 13-0 in five innings to complete the undefeated weekend.

“They’re preparing for every moment as if it was their last,” said coach Kelly Inouye-Perez. “So I’m proud. I’m proud of their approach; it’s paying out.”