SB: UCLA Hands Oregon First Loss of Season Behind Stellar Pitching

The No. 2 Oregon Ducks needed just one more win to become the first team in NCAA Softball history to open the season winners of 36-straight games. However, the No. 9 UCLA Bruins had other ideas. Behind a complete-game shutout pitching performance from redshirt freshman Rachel Garcia (11-4), the Bruins blanked the Ducks and won 2-0. Zoe Shaw drove in the deciding run on a two-out single back in the second inning and Madeline Jelenicki added a solo home run in the fourth to account for all the scoring off Oregon’s Megan Kleist (10-1). The loss drops Oregon to 35-1 overall and 8-1 in Pac-12 play while the Bruins are now 27-9 and 3-4 in conference. Oregon will look to even up the series on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. to set up a rubber match on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

Game Story (by Jonathan Rifkind)

Postgame Interviews

Head Coach Mike White

Right Fielder Danica Mercado