STANFORD, Calif. - No. 2 UCLA (44-3, 18-2 Pac-12) evened a three-game Pac-12 series with Stanford (32-14, 8-9 Pac-12) on Saturday, capturing a 7-4 victory in front of 844 fans from Smith Family Stadium.
The Cardinal handed the ball to freshman Molly Millar, and the right-hander pitched well opposite All-American Rachel Garcia. Making her first career start, Millar tossed 5.1 innings and allowed six runs (five earned), but the final two runs on her ledger came in after she had left the game. Millar walked two and struck out three while allowing nine hits.
Garcia improved to 20-0 on the season for the Bruins after compiling 6.2 innings over two stints in the circle on Saturday. The right-hander did not allow a Stanford hit through three innings, but with the visitor leading 4-0, UCLA elected to call to the bullpen in the fourth. Junior Montana Dixon quickly made the change meaningful, launching a two-run homer off Holly Azevedo to cut the lead in half. The round-tripper was Dixon's fourth of the season.
Here's a ?? at the ?? from @Montanamariee12! #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/6fts2b1Pfr
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) May 4, 2019
Returning to the circle in that fourth inning, Garcia went the rest of the way, allowing two runs on four hits before sealing the victory. She struck out five and ultimately walked two.
Senior Whitney Burks did the only damage against Garcia, punching a two-RBI single back up the middle with two out in the sixth to bring home Emily Young and Lauren Frost. That two-run single drew the Card within three at 7-4, but Stanford would not inch any closer.
B6 » ?? 7, ?? 4@_whitneyalexis delivers the two-RBI single!
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) May 4, 2019
Watch live on @Pac12Network!#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/k9YlqrkV17
UCLA got on the board first in the first inning as Brianna Tautalafua delivered a two-out RBI-single. Millar had retired the first two in the inning, but a single and two walks loaded the bags for Tautalafua's run-scoring hit.
It was a similar story in the third, as Millar retired the first two hitters before an error extended the frame. Taylor Pack followed with a single to put two aboard, and Aaliyah Jordan ensured the error came back to haunt the Card, sending an RBI-double off the top of the wall in left-centerfield.
Bubba Nickles collected the first of three RBI on the day in the fourth to highlight a two-run inning for the Bruins, and UCLA capped its scoring run with three runs in the sixth – including a pair on a Nickles two-RBI single.
Nickles finished the game 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI while hitting out of the leadoff spot in the order. Briana Perez also tallied two hits to help UCLA to 11 as a team, while Garcia scored twice.
Stanford committed three errors in the game behind Millar and relievers Kiana Pancino and Nikki Bauer.
Stanford will look to secure its first series win over UCLA since 2013 on Sunday at noon. Sunday's game is also Senior Day, as the Cardinal will honor seniors Whitney Burks, Molly Fowkes, Lauren Frost and Carolyn Lee.