Softball advances to NCAA super regionals after edging out Fullerton
Senior infielder Mysha Sataraka followed up junior infielder Delaney Spaulding’s three-run home run with a solo shot of her own. It proved to be the difference in the last game of the weekend, as it put the Bruins up 5-3 in a game they went on to win 5-4. (Kathy Chen/Daily Bruin
By Brent Troop
May 22, 2016 6:05 p.m.
UCLA softball will keep on dancing to the super regionals.
The No. 12 Bruins knocked the Cal State Fullerton Titans out of regionals with a pair of third-inning homers.
After striking first in each of its first two tournament games, UCLA fell to an early 3-0 deficit when Fullerton hit a pair of doubles off sophomore pitcher Johanna Grauer.
Grauer, who couldn’t seem to replicate the same success she had during Friday night’s no-hitter, was ultimately pulled in favor of sophomore pitcher Selina Ta’amilo in the top of the second.
The Bruins’ offense struggled early on against the Titans, going hitless through the first 2 2/3 innings.
UCLA finally reached base after freshman outfielder Paige Halstead was hit by a pitch. Senior outfielder Allexis Bennett and sophomore Kylee Perez followed Halstead up with back-to-back singles to cut Cal State Fullerton’s lead to 3-1.
With runners on first and second, junior shortstop Delaney Spaulding approached the plate to face freshman pitcher Sydney Golden. Spaulding launched the second pitch of the at-bat over the left field wall, putting the Bruins ahead 4-3 with her 17th home run of the year.
“I saw the ball coming in … and I was just hacking,” Spaulding said. “It was an inside pitch and that’s something that was in a different zone from my previous at-bat, but I was just feeling the moment and going for it.”
Immediately after the home run, senior pitcher Desiree Ybarra replaced Golden and had to face senior third baseman Mysha Sataraka.
Sataraka blasted a ball of her own over Easton Stadium’s outfield wall, adding another run to make it 5-3 UCLA.
“We have a motto that we’re going to score more runs than our opponent,” Sataraka said. “We can do it in any way – from our bunting … to our power hitting.”
The Bruins’ lead remained steady until the top of the sixth, when Ta’amilo allowed the Titans to load the bases. A single up the middle by junior catcher Alexis Gonzalez narrowed Fullerton’s deficit to just one run.
After the hit, UCLA coach Kelly Inouye-Perez pulled Ta’amilo for redshirt junior pitcher Paige McDuffee.
McDuffee saved the Bruins from having to play a second game by inducing a ground ball and a pop out to limit the damage and end the inning.
“(Our pitchers) were able to pitch to what their strengths were and the defense played great behind them,” Inouye-Perez said. “It was a great day for us in the circle as far as being able to have all three be a part (of the game.)”
With the 5-4 win over Fullerton, UCLA will advance to the super regionals to face the winner of the Oregon-Baylor game.
