No. 3 UCLA Takes Pac-12 Opener, 6-2

Friday, March 16

Eugene, OR

5:00 PM

University of Oregon

23-5, 0

UCLA

25-0, 0

UCLA

Oregon

03/16/18 | Softball

Box Score Box: #3 UCLA 6, #6 Oregon 2

The No. 6 Ducks were unable to get much going offensively against UCLA ace Rachel Garcia on Friday night as the third-ranked Bruins took game one of the three-game series, 6-2

By: Nate Krueger

EUGENE, Ore. - The No. 6 ranked Oregon softball team struggled to get going offensively against UCLA ace Rachel Garcia on Friday night as the third-ranked Bruins took game one of the three-game series, 6-2, to open conference play at Jane Sanders Stadium.

The Ducks (23-5, 0-1) will look to bounce back from the loss and even the series with the Bruins (25-0, 1-0), who remained one of two unbeaten teams in the nation, in game two on Saturday (7 p.m., Pac-12 Network).

How it Happened: Oregon had a chance to jump on Garcia (11-0) early in the first inning. After a passed ball on a strikeout allowed leadoff hitter Jenna Lilley to reach first, a walk and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases with no outs. Garcia buckled down, though, and struck out the next three batters to complete the rare four-strikeout inning and keep the Ducks off the scoreboard.

Garcia and Oregon junior Megan Kleist (7-4) traded zeros early on, with both pitchers allowing just one hit each through the first three innings. The Bruins got to Kleist in the fourth inning, taking a 2-0 lead on a two-run home run by Brianna Tautalafua.

The Ducks got runners aboard on one-out walks in both the fourth and fifth innings and an Alexis Mack stolen base gave them a runner in scoring position in the fifth, but Garcia ended both frames with strikeouts to keep the Ducks scoreless.

UCLA added insurance runs in each of the final two frames. Garcia, who also hit fifth for the Bruins, helped out her own cause with a solo home run in the sixth inning. Kylee Perez doubled in a run in the seventh after a two-out hit-by-pitch, and Aaliyah Jordan followed with a two-run homer to make it 6-0.

The Ducks, who had one hit through the first six innings, began to square up Garcia in the bottom of the seventh as they attempted to mount a last-chance comeback. Senior Lauren Lindvall opened the inning with a solo home run to put the Ducks on the board, and Haley Cruse and Lilley followed with a double and a single, respectively. After an RBI infield single by Mack cut UCLA's lead to 6-2 with no outs, Garcia set down the next three batters in order to end the comeback threat and secure the win for the Bruins.

In the Circle: Kleist took the loss while allowing three runs on seven hits over 5.1 innings with two strikeouts and no walks. Sophomore Maggie Balint threw 1.2 innings of relief, allowing three runs on two hits with a strikeout. Garcia was stellar for the Bruins, limiting Oregon to two runs on five hits with 16 strikeouts and three walks.

At the Plate: Mack led the Ducks with two hits while adding a walk and an RBI, and Lindvall finished 1-for-3 with her second home run of the season. Cruse and Lilley added the final two hits of the night for the Ducks.

Quotable: Mike White, Head Coach
On Garcia...
"She's awfully good. She's one of the best pitchers in the country. Good pitchers can make hitters look pretty bad. You have to tip your hat to her. I don't think we had very good discipline. We were taking some pretty good pitches in the zone and we were swinging at some pitches above our heads, so it makes a pitcher even better. I think that was the difference. We made her better, but she's extremely good."

On what needs to improve Saturday and Sunday...
"It's just a matter of what are we going to do here. Obviously, Garcia is very good, but are we saying that they are better than us and we can't come and compete? We have to compete out there and that's the biggest thing. 16 strikeouts is not competing, not at this level. As good as she is, she shouldn't be striking out 16 of us."

Notable: Mack also stole two bases to run her team-best total to 11 … 2,124 fans were on hand for game one of the top-10 Pac-12 series … The Ducks lost their Pac-12 opener for the first time since 2012.

Up Next: The Ducks and Bruins will square off in game two of the series at 7 p.m. PT on Saturday (Pac-12 Network).