Three is a magic number.

Three Bruins homered back-to-back-to-back at Easton Stadium in an effort that resulted in No. 7 UCLA softball (22-3, 3-0 Big Ten) besting Loyola Marymount (18-8) 9-1 in a contest that lasted just five innings.

After a shutout top of the first inning from freshman pitcher Natalie Cable, the Bruins’ bats dominated.

And when the “Bruin Bombers” – seniors utility Megan Grant and infielder Jordan Woolery – step in the batter’s box, sparks are sure to fly. Grant started the home run derby with a shot to right center on the very first pitch she saw.

Grant entered the contest with 18 home runs across just 52 at-bats, having established herself as one of the nation’s best hitters this season.

Although Grant knows how to effectively swing the rod, she also knows when to resist. She entered the game leading the team in walks with 33, and the Bruin with the second-most walks on the team – her “Bruin Bomber” counterpart – entered with 17 fewer than her.

Woolery wasted little time sending the ball over the outfield wall, crushing it to center field on the second pitch she saw. The team huddled around home base to celebrate the dynamic duo’s back-to-back blasts.

As sophomore infielder Kaniya Bragg stepped up to the plate, she was ready to join in on the fun. Bragg homered to center field on the fourth pitch of the at-bat, marking the conclusion to the bottom-of-the-first slugfest.

And Bragg has embraced her role of following Grant and Woolery in the lineup.

“Honestly, it doesn’t put any pressure on me, feeling the same that I did,” Bragg said. “I want to stay relaxed as much as possible and know to not try to do too much.”

Cable was able to retire the side quickly in the top of the second inning, notching two strikeouts.

The Bruins have struggled in the circle recently, allowing their opponents to plate a combined 107 runs this season.

But Cable trusted her defense and allowed defensive plays to set the tone throughout the game.

“It sets the tone, and knowing our offense, we’ll get the job done,” Cable said. “Knowing that they have my back, and if I do my job, they’ll do theirs.”

Cable pitched the entirety of the game, forfeiting just three hits and one run.

Although the thrill of back-to-back-to-back homers often defines a contest, the Bruins also boasted other highlights. Sophomore outfielder Rylee Slimp showed a bunt on the first pitch she saw in the bottom of the second, but then demolished the very next pitch over the right field wall for a solo blast of her own.

As the bottom of the third inning rolled around, the bats were still out against the Lions. LMU brought out four pitchers throughout the game, with Lindsay O’Dell earning the loss.

Bragg hit her second four-bagger of the night with a drive to left field in her second at-bat.

“It felt great, honestly, making my team proud and being able to surround myself when I’m running into home plate, feeling all the excitement and love,” Bragg said.

Sophomore catcher Sofia Mujica also went deep with a three-run blast to left center. This marked Mujica’s fourth home run of the year, as she often switches in rotation with redshirt junior catcher Alexis Ramirez.

As UCLA substituted starters for reserve players at the top of the fifth inning, LMU mustered a run to its name. But it was all for naught, as Woolery reached on a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the fifth, which brought home sophomore utility Mia Phillips, the inning-rule-walk-off run.

As a midweek game during the week prior to final exams took place, and with a conference game against Michigan State slated for Friday, coach Kelly Inouye-Perez spoke about what it means to be a UCLA student-athlete.

“Big Wednesday win, because it’s finals week for us, and the girls are student athletes, so they’re managing their time and their emotions, and they locked in, and they got a W,” Inouye-Perez said. “They’re going to get back to the classroom and then get ready for the weekend for another round of Big Ten softball.”