Last weekend, UCLA only managed to score 12 runs in its three games against Oregon, ultimately dropping the series two games to one. This weekend, the Bruins matched that 12 run total in their first game alone, en route to a three-game sweep of the Stanford Cardinal.
No. 9 UCLA (35-8, 9-3 Pac-12) put up double-digit runs in all three games against Stanford (16-25, 1-11), winning 12-4 on Friday, 18-3 on Saturday, and 10-2 on Sunday. The mercy rule was in effect on all three days, limiting the games to six, five and six innings, respectively.
“If we have the opportunity to play less innings, save our pitchers arms, and not have to play the full length of the game, that’s always cool,” said coach Kelly Inouye-Perez. “They did a great job of coming out and scoring early in the game, in the middle of the game, late in the game – and those are all signs of a championship-quality team.”
UCLA’s power was on full display, as the team came up with three home runs on both Friday and Saturday, including a grand slam by senior Ally Carda on Saturday. The team lead for home runs is currently shared by senior Stephany LaRosa and sophomore Delaney Spaulding, who both hit their seventh and eighth home runs in consecutive games on Friday and Saturday.
“The team came out with a little more focus this weekend, coming off of last weekend, our series loss to Oregon,” LaRosa said. “Taking in the good, letting out the bad, and coming out fresh this weekend.”
The biggest struggle that the team faced came in the bottom of the first inning on Saturday. After UCLA jumped ahead 2-0, freshman pitcher Johanna Grauer faced four batters but did not record an out, and was charged with two earned runs as Stanford tied the game 2-2. Freshman pitcher Selina Ta’amilo relieved Grauer, and went on to pitch all five innings while allowing only one run in the 18-3 win.
“With Johanna you can tell I always have her back,” Ta’amilo said. “That’s the kind of relationship we have as pitchers. When one of us messes up, we have each other’s backs.”
UCLA continued a common theme of beating unranked teams this weekend. This season, UCLA is 29-2 against unranked teams and 6-6 against ranked teams. Next weekend, the Bruins will return home to take on No. 20 California as conference play continues.