Going into their final Pac-12 series against each other, the UCLA Bruins had defeated the Arizona Wildcats nine straight times. They had not dropped a series to UA since 2019. Arizona put an end to the nine-game skid on Saturday. On Sunday, they hoped to put an end to the four-year skid.
Through four innings, it looked for all the world that not only was Arizona going to end that skid, but the Wildcats were going to do it in style. Both a run-rule victory and a perfect game were firmly on the table. Instead, an utter collapse that hinged on pitching decisions resulted in an 11-7 UCLA win.
Arizona lead 7-0 after its half of the fifth inning. Starting pitcher Aissa Silva had yet to give up a hit or walk a batter. The Wildcats’ bats were knocking the cover off anything freshman Kaitlyn Terry threw to them for the second straight day.
Then, the wheels fell off. Megan Grant led off the bottom of the fifth with a home run to end the perfect game. It was just one run, but the Bruins were now seeing Silva for the second and third time through the order. Considering that the coaching staff has been quick to relieve pitchers this year, the question was how long they would let Silva go.
It turned out to be way too long. Jordan Woolery lined out, but the next at-bat was a single. That was followed by another single. Then came a walk to load the bases. Pinch hitter Savannah Pola popped out for the second out, but two outs haven’t always been a comfort for Arizona’s pitchers this season.
It wasn’t this time, either. Maya Brady hit a double to tack on two more runs. The lead was getting smaller with Arizona now ahead 7-3, but the coaches opted to leave Silva in the game.
Silva hit the next batter to load the bases again. Then, came the real damage.
Sharlize Palacios stepped in and launched a ball over the wall to tie the game. Brooke Mannon entered the game to get the final out of the inning, but the damage had been done. What had been so close to a run-rule victory was a new ballgame and Arizona hadn’t scored in two innings.
The Wildcats didn’t score in the sixth, either. They put the first two batters on base, but Kaiah Altmeyer and Dakota Kennedy stayed put at first and second.
UCLA kept their bats going, though. A two-out single put the Bruins on top 8-7, giving them seven runs with two outs on the day.
Make that 10 runs with two outs. Mannon allowed three more singles to score three more runs before she was relieved by Miranda Stoddard. Stoddard put an stop to the bleeding, but the patient was on life support with Arizona trailing 11-7.
The Wildcats got a one-out single in the top of the seventh, but they failed to put runs on the board for the fourth straight inning.
It wasted what had been a superb outing by Silva for four innings and a strong start for the Arizona offense. The Wildcats scored in each of the first three innings, jumping out to a three-run lead before the Bruins even got up to bat.
Shortstop Tayler Biehl was the offensive star. The sophomore had two home runs and three RBI before Terry finally retired her in the fifth inning. Even that was a fairly well-hit ball to centerfield. She ended the day 2-for-4 with three RBI.
Biehl wasn’t alone. Shockey was 2-for-4 on the day. Skaggs went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a triple.
As a team, Arizona’s seven runs were scored on nine hits, four walks, and one hit batter. UCLA scored its 11 runs on 11 hits, one walk, and one hit batter.
The Wildcats are done with regular season Pac-12 play. They return home on Tuesday, Apr. 30 for a game against Grand Canyon to end the regular season. The Pac-12 Tournament begins on Apr. 8 at Stanford.