For the first time since 2016, and the first time in Seattle since 2010, coach Heather Tarr and the Washington Huskies can say they won a series against the UCLA Bruins. It wasn’t easy and came down to the final strike, but the No. 8 Huskies walked away on Saturday with a 6-4 victory over the No. 14 Bruins.
Washington took a 6-1 lead into the top of the seventh inning and after first-year Sidne Peters allowed the first two batters of the frame to reach base, Tarr turned to ace Ruby Meylan, who didn’t have her best control on Saturday.
Meylan walked 4 batters in the inning, allowing 3 runs to score but only one was charged to her, with the other two going to Peters. The Huskies pitching staff didn’t let the Bruins cash in on golden opportunities, as UCLA left 12 runners on base and left the bases loaded to end the game.
Starter Lindsay Lopez, who improved to 7-1 on the season was excellent in high pressure situations, letting up just one run on 8 hits over 5 1/3 innings.
Offensively, the Huskies were once again powered by a big first inning. Outfielder Alana Johnson hit her second two-run home run in as many days, after Rylee Holtorf opened the scoring by swiping home plate on a double steal to give Washington a 3-0 lead to start the game.
Catcher Sydney Stewart plated two runs with a single in the fourth inning aided by a throwing error from the Bruins, and Brooke Nelson brought in Washington’s final run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning.
With the win, Washington moves to 22-4 on the season and 6-2 against Pac-12 opponents, while the Bruins dropped to 17-8 this year and 3-2 in conference play. The two teams will finish their three-game set on Sunday at noon.