ASU Softball: UCLA sweeps doubleheader against the Sun Devils

UCLA’s (18-1, 2-0 Pac-12) incredible pitching duo of Megan Faraimo and Rachel Garcia limited Arizona State (17-5, 0-2) to one run in a doubleheader sweep on Saturday.

Game One

Arizona State jumped ahead in the first inning on a Maddi Hackbarth RBI-double. After that, it was all Bruins. UCLA paced its way to a 6-1 victory in the first half of the doubleheader.

The Bruins used their home run power to bruise to the win. Maya Brady tied things up in the second inning with a solo blast off of Cielo Meza. Bubba Nickles, Delanie Wisz and Kinsley Washington all sent out long balls against Meza and Allison Royalty.

Meza and Royalty’s line were basically identical. Each threw three innings, allowed four hits, two home runs, and three earned runs apiece.

Faraimo gave UCLA another pitching gem. Outside of the first inning, she didn’t feel much pressure. Bella Loomis and Jazmine Hill had the only other hit other than Hackbarth’s double. Faraimo tossed a complete game and struck out 10 batters.

Game Two

The second game was a lot closer, much in part to the effort of Lindsay Lopez in the circle. However, Lopez was only able to keep the Bruin offense in check for so long as UCLA came away with the doubleheader sweep after a 4-0 win.

Lopez held UCLA scoreless for the first four innings. Then in the fifth, Briana Perez doubled and came in after a single by Aaliyah Jordan.

UCLA then struck for three against Lopez and Cielo Meza in the sixth inning. Jordan drove in another run, Brady homered again, and Bubba Nickles brought one in as well.

Holly Azevedo started for UCLA, but it was Rachel Garica, who dominated the Sun Devil lineup.

Azevedo got in trouble by loading the bases in the second inning. UCLA coach Kelly Inouye-Perez went and got Garcia. She proceeded to strike out the next two batters. Garcia threw 5.2 innings and struck out a total of seven.

Arizona State will try to avoid the sweep on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. local time.