LOS ANGELES – A six-run fifth inning powered No. 8 national seed UCLA to a 9-1 victory over UCF softball in game one of the NCAA Los Angeles Super Regional Friday night at Easton Stadium.
“It was quite a game until that last inning,” said head coach Cindy “Bear” Ball-Malone. “That’s what this team does when you give up so many freebies. I don’t think it’s a surprise that there was one person we were ok with walking, but not hitting and walking those other people. That’s tough. I think Ava did a good job in her first three innings and our offense needs to show up a little bit better.”
UCLA entered the evening as the nation’s leader in on-base percentage (.494), slugging percentage (.836), runs per game (10.83) and home runs (193). UCF limited the Bruins to just five hits in the contest, but surrendered nine free passes with six walks and three hit batters. Five of those free passes went on to cross the plate.
The Knights kept pace for the majority of the contest, as a handful of remarkable defensive efforts kept UCLA limited on the scoreboard. The highly touted Bruin bats slugged a trio of homers to beat the Black and Gold, who will search to even the series Saturday at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN.
UCLA started the scoring Friday night in the second inning as Bri Alejandre homered to center field to lead off the frame. The longball was the 194th of the season for the Bruins as they continued to solidify the top mark in the country.
The Knights nearly answered with a longball of their own in the top of the fourth as Aubrey Evans laced one high off the top of the right field wall. The senior out of Apopka turned it into a leadoff double, hoping to scratch the score back to even. Evans advanced to third on a past ball with one out but scampered no further as a groundout to the pitcher and a line drive to short ended the UCF threat.
After escaping the leadoff double in the top of the frame, UCLA plated a pair in the home half. A pair of leadoff walks chased starter Ava Stuewe from the circle, who had kept one of the nation’s most powerful offenses in check through three innings. Isabella Vega took to the circle in relief of the freshman. A sacrifice bunt sent two runners into scoring position before a groundout scored one to double the Bruins’ lead. A double down the left field line drove home another, extending the lead to 3-0.
The home half of the fourth ended with a diving catch up the middle by Sierra Humphreys to strand the bases loaded. Back in her home state, the Corona, Calif. native pocketed the energy from the show-stopping snag and brought it to the plate. Leading off the top of the fifth inning, Humphreys launched a 2-2 pitch high into the L.A. sky for her 14th home run of the season, getting UCF on the board and slashing the deficit to 3-1.
Keep chipping away 💥 @SHumphreys2023 https://t.co/j2TSY37vgv pic.twitter.com/mOUK29u8Of
— UCF Softball (@UCF_Softball) May 23, 2026
The solo blast was the lone run to score for the Black and Gold as UCLA posted a six spot in its half of the fifth inning, ending the game in a 9-1 run-rule decision. The first two batters got aboard via back-to-back hit by pitches. Kaniya Bragg homered down the left field line two pitches later, keeping it just inside the foul pole to put the Bruins up 6-1. After getting a Bruin to flyout, another reached via a single but scurried all the way to third on a throwing error. Macy Miles entered the circle in relief of Vega but couldn’t slow down one of the nation’s top offenses. A walk put runners on the corners with one out and the run-rule looming. UCLA took advantage of the situation and launched its second three-run blast of the inning, this time seeing Rylee Slimp send it over the right field wall, clinching game one for the Bruins. It was the 29th run-rule victory for UCLA on the season, the most in its history.
UP NEXT
The Knights look to keep their special season alive as they gear up for game two from Easton Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday at 10 p.m. on ESPN.
ABOUT UCF ATHLETICS
UCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida's preeminent athletic program, representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as "Orlando's Hometown Team". To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com.