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Woochifer
Joined: 12/15/11 Posts: 9,123
Softball: Mercy! UCLA run-rules UGA in Game 1 of Sup Reg
Posted Thu, May 23 7:54 pm
Great start to the Super Regional for UCLA, as they mercy rule Georgia in an 8-0 shutout win for freshman Kaitlyn Terry.

Maya Brady set the tone for the game, leading off with a solo HR. She added another homer in the 5th, which helped the Bruins break the dam.

The Bruin bats kept chipping away until they broke the game open with Jordan Woolery's 3-run HR in the 5th after Brady's solo shot. With a 6-0 lead, the Bruins batted around and loaded the bases with Brady coming to the plate for the 2nd time in the inning and a chance to end the game by run-rule in the 5th. Unfortunately, she struck out. But, the Bruins came right back the next inning and put runners on 2nd and 3rd for Savannah Pola. She pulled the ball through for the walk-off RBI.

The mercy rule win meant that Kaitlyn Terry did not have to go the full 7 innings. She pitched out of a couple of jams, but had the game under control. A shutout win in her Super Regional debut is huge. Terry has gotten better at each stage of the postseason, and seems to thrive in pressure situations.

ESPN kept showing the graphic that 81% of Game 1 winners go on to win the Super Regional. Bruins go for the sweep and a ticket to OKC tomorrow night at 7pm PT.
RXBruin
Joined: 1/20/17 Posts: 388
It was a great game!
Posted Thu, May 23 8:24 pm
In response to Softball: Mercy! UCLA run-rules UGA in Game 1 of Sup Reg (Woochifer)
Maya was on fire!
Good to see Gabriela get in the game as a pinch runner and eventually score! Woohoo!

Go Bruins!
Woochifer
Joined: 12/15/11 Posts: 9,123
And she saved Stephens for the winning run
Posted Thu, May 23 8:36 pm
In response to It was a great game! (RXBruin)
Having a ringer like Gabriela Jaquez as a pinchrunner allows UCLA to save Taylor Stephens for the situation in the 6th. When the runners advanced and the winning run was on 2nd, Stephens was brought in. She came around to score the winning run. Without Gabriela, Stephens might have been used earlier. UCLA already used Lauren Hatch, so the only other good pinchrunning option was Liesl Osteen.
MR.GKD
Joined: 10/10/09 Posts: 3,721
Nice Analysis *
Posted Thu, May 23 8:53 pm
In response to And she saved Stephens for the winning run (Woochifer)
Nm
Woochifer
Joined: 12/15/11 Posts: 9,123
Terry had the changeup going as well
Posted Fri, May 24 6:53 am
In response to It was a great game! (RXBruin)
That changeup she threw to end the 6th totally froze the UGA batter. She was really working in the 6th because the UGA batters were seeing her for the 3rd time through the order. Both outs were by fielder's choice and there were a couple of UGA runners aboard. But, with a 6-0 lead, she was able to go after the batter and made the perfect pitch.

I'm expecting to see Tinsley tonight, but the Super Regional format (no elimination doubleheaders) allows for teams to ride a hot pitcher through the entire series if they choose. Tinsley is more susceptible to giving up the long ball, especially if her control is off.

Anything can happen in a deciding game, so I'd rather see the Bruins close out tonight. The pressure's all on UGA, and hopefully their batters will continue to press like they did against Terry.
RXBruin
Joined: 1/20/17 Posts: 388
Game 2: Masterful performance by Taylor Tinsley!
Posted Fri, May 24 8:36 pm
In response to Softball: Mercy! UCLA run-rules UGA in Game 1 of Sup Reg (Woochifer)
Bruins are peaking at the right time!
Sharlize with the magic tonight with two homers!

Go Bruins!
MarkLA
Joined: 12/06/11 Posts: 2,850
Don't remember the exact percentage
Posted Fri, May 24 8:52 pm
In response to Game 2: Masterful performance by Taylor Tinsley! (RXBruin)
But they said on the radio stream that they are playing .800 ball over the last 40 or so games.
Woochifer
Joined: 12/15/11 Posts: 9,123
Started 3-4, then went 39-6
Posted Sat, May 25 2:29 pm (Edited Sat, May 25 2:30 pm)
In response to Don't remember the exact percentage (MarkLA)
Since that rough start, they’ve been at a very high level. The Bruins have now won 13 games in a row. Palacios and Brady are dialed in, but the bottom of the batting order is now also getting it done. And the pitching has improved as well.
Woochifer
Joined: 12/15/11 Posts: 9,123
Great win by the Bruins!
Posted Sat, May 25 2:23 pm
In response to Game 2: Masterful performance by Taylor Tinsley! (RXBruin)
UCLA took all drama out of the super Regional. They were opportunistic and the team is indeed peaking at the right time. Big difference from last season when the Bruin bats struggled down the stretch, and the pitchers gave up inopportune big hits.

The Bruins struggled against the higher ranked teams in the preseason tournaments. But, this is a very different team and seems ready to tangle with the top teams.
UclanDoIt
Joined: 1/13/14 Posts: 3,917

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Thrilled to see UCLA SB return to the WCWS
Posted Sat, May 25 4:44 pm
In response to Great win by the Bruins! (Woochifer)
Watched both games and UCLA played very well in all the critical areas - pitching, hitting, and defense. Freshman P Terry has come a long way from her early season starts. Good to see Tinsley return and pitch some strong innings in game two.

The hitting was timely outside of the early innings in game two. The bats are alive and UCLA is hitting with confidence at the plate.

The bigger revelation was the defense. I think Brady has really settled into the SS position. I believe ESPN flashed a stat showing her fielding percentage was in the mid 80's early in the season and now it's in the high 90's. She made some stellar plays in this series. And can't forget the defensive gem by LF Allchin in game one that made the ESPN SportsCenter Top 10 plays.
Woochifer
Joined: 12/15/11 Posts: 9,123
UCLA’s WCWS opponent still TBD
Posted Sat, May 25 5:06 pm (Edited Sat, May 25 5:07 pm)
In response to Softball: Mercy! UCLA run-rules UGA in Game 1 of Sup Reg (Woochifer)
Bama beat Tenn in the Knoxville Super Regional to force a deciding game on Sunday. The game went 14 innings — the longest Super Regional game ever. The Bama ace threw 160+ pitches today. Hope for another marathon tomorrow for a tired pitching staff for whoever the Bruins play.

#1 Texas barely survived an elimination game against Texas A&M today. Had to rally from 4 runs down in the 6th and TAMU tying the game in the 7th when they were down to their last strike.

#4 Florida is also playing a deciding game after losing to Baylor.

#8 Stanford plays an elimination game tonight against #9 LSU. The Cards haven’t been the same since getting swept by UCLA a few weeks ago.
UclanDoIt
Joined: 1/13/14 Posts: 3,917

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It will be Alabama against UCLA in the WCWS
Posted Sun, May 26 6:05 pm
In response to UCLA’s WCWS opponent still TBD (Woochifer)
14th ranked Alabama rode a first inning grand slam to beat 3rd ranked Tennessee 4-1 and advances to play UCLA in the WCWS. With the upset, UCLA will be playing another double digit ranked opponent from the SEC.

Tenth ranked Duke upset seventh ranked Missouri and will now take on 2nd ranked Oklahoma. Fourth ranked Florida advanced with a win over Baylor. Fifth ranked Oklahoma State advanced yesterday after sweeping Arizona. Top seed Texas has just advanced with another close win over 16th seed Texas A&M so the Stanford/LSU winner will fill the remaining slot in the WCWS bracket.