Elite programs often respond when facing adversity.

It had been a rough weekend for the Bruins, as they lost the first two games of their final regular-season series to the Ducks.

But they recovered from the skid on Senior Day with an emphatic, run-rule win Sunday.

“Their ability to pull together – they played great softball today, and the ability to respond is something that we need, especially going into postseason,” said coach Kelly Inouye-Perez. “ I’m proud of their ability to finish strong.”

No. 6 UCLA softball (45-7, 20-4 Big Ten) won its first game of the series against No. 15 Oregon (40-11, 20-4) in an 11-3 five-inning run-rule contest on Senior Day at Easton Stadium. The Bruins limited the Ducks to just six hits and three runs Sunday after allowing a combined 21 runs across the two prior contests.

The Bruins held the Ducks scoreless in four of the five innings, with work coming from three different pitchers.

Sophomore pitcher Brynne Nally started in the circle, shutting out the Ducks in back-to-back innings. After allowing three singles in a row, Nally forfeited a run in the third, and redshirt junior pitcher Sydney Somerndike – who had not pitched since April 15 – stepped into the circle.

Inouye-Perez took a moment to speak with her defense upon making the switch.

“I brought the team in and said, ‘Listen, I want Sydney to be Sydney.’ She is somebody who throws the ball up, so we need the defense to be prepared and let her throw,” Inouye-Perez said. “She came in, she got a big strikeout, and then she got the big fly. The defense was ready for that because I wanted her to be able to throw freely and not feel like she had to change herself.”

Somerndike recorded two outs – including a strikeout – and allowed the Ducks two other runs before making way for senior pitcher Taylor Tinsley.

Tinsley pitched 15 innings and 270 pitches throughout the Oregon series. After allowing a combined 25 hits through games one and two, she allowed zero hits across her 2.1 innings pitched Sunday.

“It felt good. I feel like I definitely settled in today,” Tinsley said. “I didn’t really have my best stuff the last two days, at least for me, personally. So bouncing back today, really getting back into my groove and into what I know, what I can do best.”

After the Westwood squad’s defense limited Oregon, UCLA found its batting groove.

Redshirt freshman infielder Aleena Garcia sent four of the Bruins runs home on two hits, including a two-run homer in the first inning.

UCLA scored six total runs in the second inning, giving them an 8-0 lead. Then, in the fourth inning, the Bruins re-earned the eight-run run-rule lead with two more home runs.

Senior infielder Jordan Woolery fired off the last blast to put the Bruins up 11-3.

“There’s magical moments that happen on Senior Day. It’s kind of crazy, it always happens,” Inouye-Perez said. “For Jordan to end her last, literal home stand with a home run, opposite field at that, is so Jordan Woolery, and these are the magical moments of what we look for as a Bruin.”

UCLA and Oklahoma jointly set the new NCAA record of 173 home runs this season.

Pre- and post-game festivities centered around the three Bruin seniors, Tinsley, Woolery and utility Megan Grant.

“Seeing Tins (Tinsley) and Meg (Grant) and hearing all their accomplishments from throughout the year is so cool,” Woolery said. “We’ve been through so much together as a class, and it’s so special to do it with them and have this special day. It’s awesome.”