Every collegiate softball program has its ace.

One pitcher is consistently relied upon to start and win marquee matchups, generally returning to the bullpen only to be relieved in the circle by someone trying to emulate their throws.

And when the ace isn’t starting, they are often still given the nod to come in and seal games.

UCLA softball’s pitching staff operates a little differently.

Instead of an imitation game, each of the Bruins’ four pitchers weave individual style and experience into their respective outings.

And instead of just one ace, the sub-2.3 ERAs of UCLA’s pitching rotation qualifies it to spearhead the circle at most other Big Ten schools.

“I’m the most fortunate coach in the country because we have such different looks,” said coach Kelly Inouye-Perez. “Higher-level pitchers that selflessly work together as a group – those are all formulas in the history of this program that lead to great success.”

But Easton Stadium was not built in a day, and the Bruins’ rotation was not built overnight.

Through the last two seasons, UCLA’s bullpen has developed into a group rounded out in both skillset and class level.

Junior pitcher Taylor Tinsley’s Westwood welcome committee included former Bruins Megan Faraimo, Brooke Yanez and Lauren Shaw – a rotation of graduating pitchers who juxtaposed the then-freshman’s entrance from Lawrenceville, Georgia. After just one season, Tinsley became the star, setting the tone for the 2023 recruits and passing down wisdom from the remaining generation of the 2019 Women’s College World Series winners.

And while Tinsley has blossomed since her first outing in 2023 – ranking fifth in the nation in strikeouts per seven innings – she said her status as a seasoned veteran takes the backseat in the circle and the locker room.

“I honestly don’t treat it any differently,” Tinsley said. “When it’s season time, it’s just a grind that we’re all in. We’re all part of it – there’s no one above anyone.”

Last year, both senior pitcher Jada Cecil and sophomore pitcher/outfielder Kaitlyn Terry donned the blue and gold for the first time in their Easton Stadium entrances.

Terry – a two-time Gatorade Arizona Player of the Year – made program history as the seventh freshman Bruin to record a 20-win season. Commemorating her freshman campaign, she was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year – UCLA’s second consecutive year taking home the honor following junior infielder Jordan Woolery.

This season, Terry has expanded her field of success through her efforts as an outfielder, batter and baserunner, most recently trotting around the bases twice in UCLA’s series sweep over Washington.

“Doing more than just pitching is better for me,” Terry said. “I get bored when I just pitch. … Even being in the outfield keeps me more engaged.”

And the story almost seemed to write itself when freshman pitcher/utility Addisen Fisher – last year’s No. 1 recruit – committed to UCLA as part of this year’s powerhouse freshman class. Across her 81 innings pitched in 23 appearances so far this season, Fisher’s 13 wins maintain her spotless record.

Terry added that combining each of these variables results in variety that is integral to UCLA’s identity.

“Addie is more down, I have up and down, Tins has her changeup and Jada just spins as well – so I think we’re all just so different,” Terry said.

UCLA’s bullpen boasts the most shutouts and strikeouts per seven innings in the Big Ten, sitting third nationally in the latter category. And on two separate instances, the Bruins’ opponents failed to make a dent in their throwing game – as both Tinsley and Fisher have recorded no-hitters this season.

Most recently, Tinsley stopped national home-run leader Ohio State in its tracks, striking out 10 Buckeyes and snapping a multiweek win streak after handing them their season’s first shutout.

But even in her solo prowess, Tinsley said a unilateral spotlight fails to illuminate UCLA’s skills most effectively – especially as she joins Terry and Fisher each with double-digit wins.

“When you have all of us come in in a game, we all just feed off each other so differently, and it works really well,” Tinsley said.

The Bruins are currently coasting on a perfect home record alongside a 12-game winning streak, but Inouye-Perez said the dawn of the postseason will not eclipse the strength of the bullpen – no matter how it comes together in the lineup.

“They know they all want to be the one, but if it’s not, then they know that they’re a pitching staff,” Inouye-Perez said.