A monthlong stretch of road games against the country’s top-ranked softball programs has challenged the Bruins throughout the preseason.

However, No. 6 UCLA softball (18-4) will return to Westwood for the first time since Feb. 9 to play in one final series before its inaugural Big Ten season. UCLA will face Loyola Marymount (8-14) and Sacramento State (12-8) at Easton Stadium on Thursday and Friday respectively, before heading to SDSU Softball Stadium to play San Diego State (13-8) on Saturday, along with a rematch against Sacramento State and then to Smith Field to play a second game against LMU on Sunday.

“It’s hard being visitors sometimes,” said junior infielder Jordan Woolery. “Hopefully, with some home field advantage, we’ll be in the right position, playing until the last pitch and continuing to push through no matter the outcome.”

The Bruins have gone head-to-head with 10 top-25 opponents so far this season, defeating seven of them by a combined 50-26 run margin. Conversely, three of UCLA’s four losses this season were at the hands of ranked teams, including then-No. 14 Duke, then-No. 6 LSU and then-No. 10 Arizona.

This does not mean unranked opponents pose no threat to the Bruins, as Virginia upset UCLA 7-6 at the Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational on Feb. 16 on a walkout two-run homer from utility Mary Caroline Eaton. Although none of the Bruins’ opponents in this weekend’s series are ranked, coach Kelly Inouye-Perez said it is vital for UCLA to play its best softball.

“No matter if it’s a team that’s higher ranked according to others or a team that’s not, the game doesn’t know,” Inouye-Perez said. “You got to show up, and you got to compete.”

UCLA has never lost to LMU or SDSU, holding a combined all-time 39-0 record against the two Southern California foes. The Bruins have run-ruled the Lions in four of their last six matchups and have limited them to only run one since 2012.

Against the Aztecs, the Bruins have found similar success, recording three run-rule victories in their last five affairs. However, SDSU almost changed that narrative in 2023 when catcher/designated player Cali Decker hit a game-tying three-run homer in the top of the sixth inning.

Unfortunately for the Aztecs, former Bruin outfielder and two-time NFCA First Team All-American Aaliyah Jordan stepped up to the plate as a pinch hitter, launching a game-winning home run in the bottom of the seventh to continue the Bruins’ undefeated streak.

Jordan has since graduated from UCLA, while Decker remains part of SDSU’s roster. The two-time All-Mountain West Second Team selection leads the Aztecs in nearly every hitting category this season, including batting average, OPS, slugging percentage, hits and RBIs.

But, UCLA’s defense is equipped with Softball America’s No. 3 ranked pitcher, sophomore Kaitlyn Terry, who leads the team with 67 strikeouts and a 1.60 ERA in 2025. The pitcher/outfielder has notched two shutouts and four complete games and has conceded just three home runs this season in 57 innings pitched. In addition to the 2024 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, the Bruins’ pitching staff includes junior Taylor Tinsley – a 2024 All-Pac-12 First-Team selection – and freshman Addisen Fisher – the 2024 Gatorade National Softball Player of the Year.

“Definitely a force to be reckoned with, for sure. We all have each other’s back and I think we feed off of each other really well,” Tinsley said. “It’s really nice to have everybody have a healthy arm and go after each game together.”

Sacramento State is the only team in this weekend’s series that has ever defeated UCLA. The unranked Hornets upset the then-No.1 ranked Bruins 2-1 at the Campbell/Cartier Softball Classic in 2000. But, UCLA still holds the all-time 5-1 record against Sacramento State. This will be the first matchup between the two programs since 2018, meaning both teams enter the game with brand new rosters.

The Bruins’ starting roster features several new additions, including third baseman Kaniya Bragg, who was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Monday. Freshman catcher Sofia Mujica also recorded eight RBIs against Weber State to tie UCLA’s program record for RBIs in a single game. Meanwhile, freshman shortstop Aleena Garcia leads the team in assists with 41 and freshman outfielder Rylee Slimp ranks second on the team – behind Woolery – in batting average with a .429 clip.

“We’re right where we need to be,” Inouye-Perez said. “I love where we’re headed.”