UCLA started the Women’s College World Series in the same struggling fashion that it started the super regionals. Auburn University needed only one hit off UCLA to score five runs in the first inning.
The No. 12 Bruins (40-14-1) struggled on the mound and on defense, falling 10-3 to the No. 4 Tigers (54-10) in the first game of the Women’s College World Series.
Sophomore pitcher Selina Ta’amilo opened the postseason matchup by hitting Auburn’s leadoff hitter, outfielder Tiffany Howard. A double by third baseman Kasey Cooper and a walk by catcher Carlee Wallace then loaded the bases for the Tigers.
With the pressure mounting, Ta’amilo gave up her second hit-by-pitch of the inning, plunking first baseman Jade Rhodes to put Auburn up 1-0. After 1/3 innings, UCLA coach Kelly Inouye-Perez replaced Ta’amilo with redshirt junior Paige McDuffee.
The pitching change didn’t make much of a difference, as McDuffee promptly allowed a sacrifice fly, a walk and a hit-by-pitch of her own to put the Tigers up 3-0. A throwing error by sophomore second baseman Kylee Perez led to Auburn’s final two runs of the first inning.
Two innings later, the Tigers came close to run-rule territory after second baseman Emily Carosone hit a two-run single past the outstretched glove of Perez.
The Bruins finally found an offensive spark when Perez smacked a double to left field to begin the fourth inning. Junior shortstop Delaney Spaulding followed Perez by hitting a single up the middle to put two on for senior third baseman Mysha Sataraka.
Sataraka belted a three-run shot – her 14th of the year – over the outfield walls of ASA Hall of Fame Stadium to put UCLA on the board.
The home run proved to not be enough though, as the Bruins couldn’t manufacture anything more on offense against pitcher Kaylee Carlson.
A two-run double by Cooper during the sixth inning gave the Tigers a commanding seven-run lead that helped Carlson pick up the complete game win.
In a rematch of the Bruins’ elimination game from last year’s Women’s College World Series, UCLA lost again to Auburn and is now one loss away from packing their bags and heading back to Westwood.
UCLA will face FSU in an elimination game Saturday morning.