Aleena Garcia powers UCLA softball back to Women’s College World Series

LOS ANGELES — The UCLA softball team is making its return to the Women’s College World Series to hunt for the program’s 14th national championship after sweeping its way through the regional and super regional rounds.

The Bruins clinched their spot in Oklahoma City after completing a series sweep over UCF in the Los Angeles super regional.

An early first-inning deficit did not deter the Bruins in the 14-4 Game 2 win Saturday night at Easton Stadium.

The Bruins join Nebraska, Arkansas, Tennessee and Alabama as the first group of teams to clinch a spot in the Women’s College World Series. UCLA will make its 34th appearance in the WCWS, the most in NCAA history.

After going hitless in Game 1, redshirt freshman Aleena Garcia left her mark by going 3 for 4 with two home runs. She set a UCLA postseason record with seven RBIs.

“Having my team around me helps a lot,” Garcia said. “(UCLA coach Kelly Inouye-Perez) said that the game doesn’t know how old you are and I have a lot of experience in the game…I’m surrounded by so much love, the best teammates and the best friends.”

Coming into Saturday’s game, the Bruins’ seniors knew this could be the last time they played at Easton Stadium with a trip to the WCWS and Oklahoma City on the line. That gave them an extra incentive to leave it all on the diamond.

However, the Knights quickly stole the momentum in the first inning.

After the Bruins were sat down to begin the top half of the frame, senior Aubrey Evans cranked the third pitch of her at-bat over the center field wall to give the Knights a 1-0 lead.

In the circle, senior Taylor Tinsley wasn’t fazed at all after giving up the opening score, bouncing off the diamond with excitement after ending the half inning with a strikeout.

“Getting to work with Taylor and be a part of her world is really special,” redshirt junior catcher Alexis Ramirez said. “Her mentality when she’s out there, we say that it’s nine on one and she truly believes that.”

UCLA’s offense struggled to back up its ace pitcher in the early innings. The Bruins were held hitless through the first two innings as freshman Tori Payne worked efficiently in the circle for UCF.

The Bruins didn’t get their first hit until junior Soo-Jin Berry led off the third inning with a single.

A bases-loaded opportunity with no outs was presented to senior Megan Grant, who brought home the game-tying run on a sacrifice fly.

The third-inning rally continued for UCLA when Garcia hit an RBI single to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead.

Suddenly, the Bruins were bursting with momentum.

In the fourth inning, Ramirez left the yard to give the Bruins a three-run advantage.

UCLA loaded up the bases again in the fifth inning. Freshman Bri Alejandre brought home a run after getting hit by a pitch. Two batters later, Ramirez knocked in a pair of runs on an RBI double to give UCLA a 6-1 lead.

Ramirez ended her night 4 for 5 with three RBIs.

Despite trailing by five runs, the Knights continued to fight and scrap against Tinsley. They manufactured three runs in the fifth, cutting the deficit to two runs.

Garcia hit her 20th home run of the season in the sixth inning, tacking on three more runs for the Bruins to make it 9-4.

Things began unfolding for UCF in the seventh inning when UCLA accumulated five runs to expand its lead to double digits, ultimately sealing the win for the Bruins.

“I appreciate it big time,” UCLA coach Kelly Inouye-Perez said about the Bruins’ record-breaking offense. “This team plays as a unit. It starts from the top from the coaches down to the players, they buy into the team.”

The Bruins’ Women’s College World Series campaign kicks off on May 28.