The Big Ten’s longest active winning streaks will clash in Westwood on Friday.

But only one squad can extend its number into double digits.

Both boasting nine-game unbeaten runs, No. 7 UCLA softball (37-5, 9-1 Big Ten) will face Washington (29-9, 7-2) in a three-game series beginning Friday night and ending Sunday afternoon at Easton Stadium. After outscoring their opponents 85-11 across their nine-game stretch, the Bruins are turning their attention to the final four weeks of conference play – which includes battles against two familiar former Pac-12 foes, Washington and Oregon.

“We’re going to learn a lot about playing against a higher-level opponent,” said coach Kelly Inouye-Perez. “We’re playing some great opponents every single weekend – some home, some away – but there’s going to be great softball.”

In the 2024 season, its final in the Pac-12, UCLA dropped just a single conference series. It was Washington who handed Inouye-Perez’s squad a pair of losses at Husky Softball Stadium.

However, a lot has changed since that meeting.

First, the entirety of the Husky pitching staff has been retooled – including the loss of stalwart Ruby Meylan, who earned 2023 First Team All-Pac-12 honors.

Second, UCLA’s Megan Grant has dialed in her swing and approach at the dish.

The junior utility struck out five times across the trio of contests against Washington last year but has been punched out just four times through 41 games in her 2025 campaign. Grant ranks fifth in the nation in slugging percentage and third in home runs while also placing third in OPS in the Big Ten.

Although the Washington pitching core may all be new to the purple and gold, it features a strong trio of Sophia Ramuno, Stevie Hansen and Morgan Reimer. Each has started double-digit games this season and posted ERAs of 1.87, 2.12 and 2.22, respectively – propelling the Huskies to the 18th-best ERA in the nation.

But even when the UCLA bats have been held quiet, other facets of the game have allowed the team to stay competitive.

“When it comes to our offense and defense, I feel like our main thing is having each other’s back,” Grant said. “Let’s say one game, the offense isn’t as productive – then our defense and our pitching staff has us. And it’s always vice versa.”

In all but one game over the nine-game winning streak, the Bruin pitching staff has held opponents to two runs or fewer. It will be a combination of arms tasked with quieting the Huskies’ bark.

The featured rotation of sophomore pitcher/outfielder Kaitlyn Terry, junior pitcher Taylor Tinsley and freshman pitcher/utility Addisen Fisher – as well as the return of senior pitcher Jada Cecil – have given Inouye-Perez a breadth of options and allowed her to keep her pitchers fresh, as none have logged more than 13 starts.

Washington’s offense is spearheaded by infielder Alexis DeBoer. The freshman leads her squad in hits, home runs, RBIs and OPS.

While the Huskies have been hot, they have been winning games in a different fashion from the Bruins – squeaking out two extra-inning victories during their win streak. On the season, Washington has scratched 6.11 runs across the plate – good for just 50th in the nation.

But for UCLA, regardless of who is stepping into the opposing circle or batter’s box, the approach is the same.

“The opponent doesn’t matter,” Fisher said. “We’re going to go out and play our game.”