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Softball splits doubleheader, continues struggles against ranked teams

In a Thursday night doubleheader, UCLA softball coach Kelly Inouye-Perez and her Bruins relied on three sacrifice flies and 12 strikeouts for a 7-4 win over the Indiana Hoosiers. In the second game of the doubleheader, UCLA fell to Texas 5-3 after a seventh inning rally fell short. (Daniel Alcazar/Daily Bruin)

By Amit Nainani

Feb. 20, 2015 3:19 a.m.

In the rare case that an opportunity comes around a second time after initially going unanswered, it must be seized. In the first game of Thursday night’s doubleheader, the UCLA’s softball team was lucky enough to get a second chance and did not let it slip through its fingers.

The No.12 Bruins (10-3) defeated the unranked Indiana Hoosiers (2-10) 7-4 in a game that they led from wire-to-wire. Freshman pitcher Selina Ta’amilo threw four strong innings and earned her first win of the season, outdueling Indiana’s Lora Olson who fell to 1-4 on the year. Fellow freshman pitcher Johanna Grauer came on in relief in the fifth inning and closed out the game for the Bruins to earn the first save of her career.

Ta’amilo and Grauer combined to throw 12 strikeouts on the night, striking out at least one batter per inning. This strikeout clinic was highlighted by Ta’amilo striking out the side in the second inning on just 13 pitches. Both Ta’amilo and Grauer set the tone for their respective nights early as they allowed the lead-off hitter to reach base in only one of the seven innings. On a night in which both pitchers had their pitches working, the only blemish was the three combined home runs that they allowed.

Senior first baseman Stephany LaRosa kicked off the scoring for the Bruins with a solo home run in the second inning en route to a 2-3 night at the plate. LaRosa was joined by four other Bruins who also had a multi-hit night.

However, the offensive star of the night might have been someone who went hitless, sophomore infielder Delaney Spaulding. She drove in two runs via two sacrifice flies, which tied the school record with the team totalling three sacrifice flies.

The third sacrifice fly of the night was courtesy of junior outfielder Allexis Bennett which put a cap on the Bruins three-run sixth inning. Unlike the fifth inning in which the Bruins only managed to score one run after loading the bases without an out, the offense came alive when given a second chance as they scored three runs in the same scenario one inning later, which ultimately was UCLA’s victory margin.

Unlike the first game in which a late-inning offensive outburst pushed the Bruins ahead, UCLA was unable to muster the same magic as it fell against No. 25 Texas (9-3) 5-3 in the second game of the doubleheader. The Bruins’ seventh inning rally fell just short as reigning Pac-12 Player of the Week winner sophomore utility Gabrielle Maurice flied out to right field with two-on and the opportunity to win the game. This loss continued the early-season struggle that the Bruins have had against ranked teams, dropping them to 1-3 against ranked opponents.

The Bruins fell into an early hole as they trailed 1-0 after the first inning due to some timely two-out hitting by the Longhorns. The Bruins then turned to their workhorse, senior pitcher Ally Carda, as a replacement for junior pitcher Paige McDuffee after the second inning. Carda was unusually erratic as the Longhorn batters exercised patience to the tune of five walks in addition to seeing 128 total pitches. Her inability to command the strike zone allowed the Longhorns to score five runs despite the fact that they were out-hit by the Bruins, 8-7.

The Bruins look to rebound as they continue in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic Friday as they face-off against the No.18 Missouri Tigers.

Compiled by Amit Nainani, Bruin Sports contributor.

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