UCLA softball extends winning streak with 2 mercy-rule victories at tournament

This post was updated March 14 at 7:41 p.m.

The Bruins concluded nonconference play with their third consecutive tournament sweep.

No. 5 UCLA softball (22-3) finished the Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament with two five-inning mercy-rule triumphs Saturday. The blue and gold picked up a 12-0 victory over Fresno State (5-18) before topping CSU Bakersfield (2-12) by a score of 17-1 to extend its winning streak to 15 games.

The Bruin bats came alive in the third inning against the Bulldogs, headlined by a two-run opposite-field home run from redshirt senior infielder Delanie Wisz that gave UCLA a 4-0 lead. UCLA extended its advantage in the following frame with six RBI hits, including two singles, three doubles and a two-run blast courtesy of redshirt senior infielder Briana Perez.

Graduate student pitcher Lauren Shaw, who gave up two hits and struck out seven Bulldogs en route to a shutout, said the most exciting thing for her this season has been watching the team’s offense go to work.

“Our offense is so exciting,” Shaw said. “All the home runs, the back-to-backs, the bunts – we’re threats all around, one through nine, in our lineup. It’s just so exciting knowing that everyone in our roster can get up there and make it work.”

Shaw’s teammates tallied 64 runs over the five games on the weekend, including 15 RBIs from Perez, who went 5-for-5 in Saturday’s contests.

Perez struck first in the blue and gold’s second matchup of the day with a two-run shot to center field in the first, extending her home run streak to three games.

The following inning, UCLA kicked off a nine-run rally with a pair of two-run home runs from freshman utility Savannah Pola and redshirt sophomore utility Maya Brady. When CSU Bakersfield pitcher Kirsten Martinez loaded the bases by hitting three UCLA batters in a row, Perez took advantage by smacking a bases-clearing triple down the right-field line for a 13-1 UCLA lead.

Coach Kelly Inouye-Perez said Perez, who was a double shy of hitting for the cycle against the Roadrunners, is the Bruins’ most athletic player.

“Briana can break and hit the long ball. She can drop a bunt. She can steal bases. She can defend. You got to see all parts of her game (Saturday),” Inouye-Perez said. “If you asked every player on our team who we believe is the best athlete on the team, everybody would say Bri, so it was just an opportunity for her to showcase what we all see all the time.”

Perez said she attributes her success in the tournament to her team.

“Being back at home was nice, but just a lot of credit to the coaches and my teammates for having my back,” Perez said. “I know I didn’t have to put extra pressure on myself because if I didn’t get it done, they would.”

A combination of singles, walks and sacrifice hitting in the fourth frame gave the Bruins four additional insurance runs. Redshirt senior pitcher Holly Azevedo, who gave up four hits and one run in her complete game against CSU Bakersfield, closed out the contest with a three-up, three-down fifth inning.

UCLA clinched its two mercy-rule victories in front of a home crowd filled with softball alumni. The Bruins celebrated UCLA Softball Alumni Day on Saturday, which included a recognition of the 1982 and 1992 national championship teams.

Shaw said having the alumni present was inspiring for the team as it strives to bring home another championship this year.

“The Bruin legacy is real in the Bruin bubble, and they’ve paved the way for us,” Shaw said. “It’s not about us living up to their legacy, it’s about us adding to it, and I hope this year we’re able to do that.”