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Bruin batting brings bark and bite, muzzling Huskies in weekend series sweep

Junior infielder Jordan Woolery stands ready in the batter’s box at Easton Stadium. (Vivian Le/Daily Bruin)

Softball


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No. 7 UCLA7
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No. 7 UCLA6

By Nicole Augusta

April 14, 2025 8:24 p.m.

Easton Stadium sold out three days in a row.

And on each of those days, junior utility Megan Grant cleared the fence – and the full-capacity stands erupted on cue.

Rounding out the third day, the Bruin faithful watched its squad polish off yet another home series with a perfect record.

“It drives us to want to be better for them,” said redshirt sophomore catcher/utility Alexis Ramirez, who hit a home run of her own Sunday. “They’re taking the time out of their day to come watch us play, so (we) want to put our best effort out there and do as well as we can for them.”

The bats didn’t cool, the fans didn’t quiet, and No. 7 UCLA softball (40-5, 12-1 Big Ten) didn’t lose – extending its clean home streak in its sweep over Washington (29-12, 7-5) with Saturday and Sunday victories, following Friday’s 7-4 dismantling with scores of 7-2 and 6-5, respectively.

[Related: UCLA softball hits double-digit win streak in series opener against Washington]

The weekend series was more reminiscent of UCLA’s past than its new era in the Big Ten. For the last 32 straight seasons, the Bruins and Huskies faced off as Pac-12 foes.

“There’s nothing like familiarity – two great programs that have great coaching staffs and athletes,” said coach Kelly Inouye-Perez. “Call them my opponents and foes, but there’s camaraderie within the Pac-12.”

Redshirt sophomore catcher/utility Alexis Ramirez holds a bat and prepares to face the pitcher. (Vivian Le/Daily Bruin)
Redshirt sophomore catcher/utility Alexis Ramirez holds a bat and prepares to face the pitcher. (Vivian Le/Daily Bruin)

While Grant and junior infielder Jordan Woolery kicked off Saturday with back-to-back first-inning home runs, it was a wild pitch Sunday that put UCLA on the scoreboard first – sending senior utility Savannah Pola across the plate.

Husky miscues bookended the Bruins’ Sunday performance as sophomore pitcher Kaitlyn Terry scored the home team’s final run off a throwing error.

“Every pitch counts,” Pola said. “It takes one pitch for anything to happen, so making sure that we’re never letting up and being intentional with everything.”

But UCLA’s offensive production remained constant across the board.

The Bruins recorded 18 hits along with 13 runs between Saturday and Sunday’s bouts, contributing to their nation-leading run differential.

All three of UCLA’s most efficient batters with regard to batting average recorded home runs against Washington, with Pola – the team’s leader – crossing the plate three times.

“She holds this program to a high standard,” Inouye-Perez said. “You celebrate players that represent the program so well, and then the game pays them back. She’s having the best year as far as outcome’s concerned, but she’s never changed her love for being a Bruin.”

Senior utility Savannah Pola throws in the infield at Easton Stadium. (Vivian Le/Daily Bruin)
Senior utility Savannah Pola throws in the infield at Easton Stadium. (Vivian Le/Daily Bruin)

Meanwhile, three Bruin pitchers took their turns in the circle, with junior Taylor Tinsley notching her 10th win of the year in her second complete-game effort. Freshman pitcher Addisen Fisher, in her relief of Terry on Sunday, added yet another victory to her spotless record.

Though their foes were not held scoreless, with Tinsley and Fisher ceding a home run apiece and Terry allowing multiple RBIs, the Bruins never fell behind the Huskies.

“We want to be the last team standing, and everyone makes a difference – so there’s a lot of pride in being able to work together more as a unit instead of having just those individual moments,” Inouye-Perez said. “I have a lot of different options with weapons, which – as a coach, for me – is a dream come true.”

As the Bruins near the postseason horizon, Ramirez said the evolution of the team’s chemistry has only contributed to its performance.

“We have each other’s backs like no other,” Ramirez said. “If it’s not me, it’s the next person. If it’s not them, it’s the person after them.”

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Nicole Augusta | Copy chief
Augusta is a 2024-2025 co-Copy chief and a Sports senior staff writer. She was previously a 2023-2024 slot editor. Augusta is a fourth-year human biology and society student, minoring in global health and labor studies.
Augusta is a 2024-2025 co-Copy chief and a Sports senior staff writer. She was previously a 2023-2024 slot editor. Augusta is a fourth-year human biology and society student, minoring in global health and labor studies.
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