LOS ANGELES – Stanford battled in the series opener, but fell 5-2 at No. 3 UCLA, Friday, at Easton Family Stadium.
Freshman Maddy Dwyer started her 17th game in the circle for the Cardinal (20-15, 1-6 Pac-12). She finished with five strikeouts in the loss, dropping to 11-7 on the season.
Senior Selina Ta'amilo improved to 8-1 on the year for UCLA (33-2, 8-2 Pac-12).
UCLA took a 2-0 lead in the first inning as center fielder Bubba Nickles hit a two-run single to right field, scoring Kylee Perez and Aaliyah Jordan.
Trailing 5-0 after three, sophomore Hannah Howell sparked the Cardinal offense with the team's first hit of the game. The left fielder extended her current hit streak to five.
With the bases loaded in the top of the fourth, senior Lauren Wegner reached on an error by Ta'amilo, scoring shortstop Kristina Inouye. On the next play, catcher Arden Pettit grounded out to first base, bringing home sophomore Molly Fowkes.
Dwyer got hot late in the game, retiring seven straight Bruin hitters late in the game.
Stanford and UCLA will play again on Saturday at 6 p.m. in Los Angeles.
