Friday, May 5
Los Angeles, CA
1:00 PM
UCLA
vs
Loyola Marymount
Anna Vines (left) and Jordan Woolery (right)
Photo by: Marie Goldfarb
No. 2 Bruins Close Regular Season with Friday Double-Header
May 04, 2023 | Softball
LOS ANGELES โ The No. 2 UCLA softball team will play its final two games of the regular season with a double-header on Friday, May 5 at Easton Stadium versus Loyola Marymount at 1 p.m. and San Diego State at 6 p.m. (PT). The two contests can be viewed on the UCLA Live Stream for free.
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The Bruins (48-4, 21-3) are led in the circle by redshirt senior Megan Faraimo who has picked up a win in each of her last 13 appearances. She leads the nation with 26 victories this season. At the plate, shortstop Maya Brady owns a Pac-12 leading .454 batting average and .875 slugging percentage.
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No. 2 UCLA (48-4, 21-3) vs. Loyola Marymount (25-17, 11-1)
Los Angeles, Calif. (Easton Stadium)
Friday, May 5 โ 1 p.m. (PT)
Watch: UCLA Live Stream
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No. 2 UCLA (48-4, 21-3) vs. San Diego State (32-13, 16-6)
Los Angeles, Calif. (Easton Stadium)
Friday, May 5 โ 6 p.m. (PT)
Watch: UCLA Live Stream
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Key Notes About the Bruins
ยท UCLA captured its 17th regular-season conference title and its 12th as a member of the Pac-10/12 Conference last week.
ยท As a result, the Bruins are the No. 1 seed in the upcoming inaugural Pac-12 Softball Tournament (May 10-13).
ยท The Bruins have won 21 straight games dating back to March 25.
ยท UCLA is riding a 17-game conference winning streak heading into the Pac-12 Softball Tournament next week.
ยท UCLA finished April an undefeated 17-0.
ยท UCLA enters the week ranking top 10 nationally in both batting average (2nd - .344) and earned run average (7th - 1.56). Oklahoma is the only other Power 5 team in the top 10 statistically for both categories.
ยท The Bruins' bats lead the Pac-12 in average (.344), slugging percentage (.545) and runs scored (344).
ยท And the Bruins' arms lead the Pac-12 in shutouts (19), strikeouts (369) and opposing batting average (.187).
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Spring Cleaning & Conference Domination
UCLA swept five consecutive Pac-12 foes to end its conference slate. The Bruins' 21 Pac-12 wins are their most in a season since 1999. For just the second time in the last 20 years (2021), UCLA has taken the season series against every Pac-12 opponents. The Bruins' 17-game conference winning streak is the longest among all Power 5 programs and is the Bruins' longest in a single season since 2002. UCLA is one of just three teams to not drop a conference series this year (Oklahoma and Florida State).
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Two Top 10 Finalists for Player of the Year
Redshirt junior utility Maya Brady and redshirt senior pitcher Megan Faraimo were named top 10 finalists for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. Faraimo (26-2, 1.15 ERA, 208 SO) has made the cut for the top 10 for the second time in her career (2021). This is Brady's first acknowledgement of her career. Brady (.454 AVG, 55 RBI, 16 HR) has been the anchor of the Bruins' lineup in the No. 2 spot this season. She leads the team in batting average, home runs, runs batted in and slugging percentage all while undertaking a new position defensively at shortstop. Two Bruins have been honored as USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year a total of three times (Rachel Garcia - 2019, 2018; Stacey Nuveman 2002).
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Two Top 25 Finalists for Freshman of the Year
The Bruins also boast two of the top freshmen in the country in utility Megan Grant and first baseman Jordan Woolery. UCLA is one of just two teams (Duke) to have two players listed as Top 25 Finalists for TUCCI/NFCA Freshman of the Year. Rachel Garcia (2017) is the only Bruin to win the award in its nine-year history. Grant and Woolery are each having two of the most productive seasons ever by a UCLA freshman. They have combined for 98 RBI this season which is the most by a freshman duo in UCLA history, passing the previous mark of 90 RBI set in 1997 by Stacey Nuveman (71) and Courtney Dale (19).
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Megantron
Faraimo, who has hauled in four Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week awards this season, has picked up a win in each of her last 13 appearances in the circle. Earlier this season, she set a career-long scoreless inning streak of 35.2 innings that was snapped in game three against Arizona on April 16. The two-time NFCA All-American boasts a miniscule WHIP of 0.78 this season. She is on pace to become first Bruin hurler since Ally Carda in 2015 to win 30 games in a season. The Oceanside, Calif. native picked up her 20th win of the season at Arizona on April 14, achieving the feat a full month earlier than she did in her 2022 campaign. Faraimo now has back-to-back 20-win, 200-strikeout seasons.
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Brady in the Hunt for the Triple Crown
Brady, who leads the Pac-12 in batting average with a .454 clip, is two off the conference in lead in home runs with 16 and three off the lead in runs batted in with 55. She trails Arizona State's Jordyn VanHook in HR (18) and Arizona's Allie Skaggs in RBI (58). There have been only three triple crown winners in conference history: Baylee Klingler (2022), Jenny Dalton (1995) and Stacey Nuveman (1999). The Pac-12 triple crown takes into account stats from the entire season.
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Brady & The Pac-12 Batting Title
Brady's .454 batting average leads Utah's Aliya Bellarde by a whole 19 points (.425) entering the final weekend of the regular season. The Pac-12 Batting Champion will be crowned after the regular season. UCLA's roster currently totes three former Pac-12 Batting Champions in Janelle Meoño (2021), Kelli Godin (2019) and Aaliyah Jordan (2018). Twelve UCLA players have won the conference batting title a total 15 times. Yvonne Gutierrez won the title twice in 1990 and 1991 and Stacey Nuveman won the title three times in 1999, 2001 and 2002.
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Ooh, That's a Fresh Note
Megan Grant's 55 runs batted in and Jordan Woolery's 44 runs batted in have made UCLA freshman class history. They are the only true freshmen in Bruins' history to each have recorded at least 37+ RBI in a single season. Their 98 combined RBI are the most by a freshman duo in a single season in UCLA history. The 98 RBI are tied with Indiana's Taryn Kern and Avery Parker for the most by a freshman duo this season. Grant's 55 RBI rank second among freshmen in the nation, trailing only Kern (62).
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Since softball was adopted by the NCAA, only four freshmen have led UCLA in runs batted in for a single season: Stephany LaRosa (2012, 61 RBI), Stacey Nuveman in (1997, 71 RBI), Janice Parks (1986, 19 RBI) and Chris Olivie (1985, 12 RBI).
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Chef Serving Appetizers
Last week in game three at Utah, Megan Grant belted her second lead-off home run of the season. The freshman phenom took over lead-off duties on April 2 versus No. 6 Stanford and has stayed in that roll ever since (17 games). Grant leads UCLA with 19 RBI, 44 total bases and 11 extra-base hits in that span.
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Fresh Faces in the Heart of the Lineup
Grant and Woolery have been mainstays in the top 5 of UCLA's lineup since the beginning of conference play. They have each recorded a grand slam and multi-homer game this season. In 24 conference games, Woolery and Grant rank first and third in the Pac-12 in hits with 32 and 29, respectively. Brady is tied with Woolery for 32 hits as well.
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Overall, Woolery's .409 batting average currently ranks fourth in UCLA freshman history, trailing Stacey Nuveman, Natasha Watley and her two teammates Aaliyah Jordan and Kelli Godin.
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Three Bruins Hitting Over .400
Joining Brady and Woolery in the above .400 club this season is freshman outfielder Kennedy Powell with a .402 average. UCLA has never had three hitters finish the season hitting .400 or above. Powell, who platoons into left field based on defensive alignments, has seen action in all 52 games this year.
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1-Through-9 Getting it Done
One of the biggest reasons for Megan Grant and Maya Brady's production is that the bottom of the lineup has been consistently getting on base. Over UCLA's last 16 games, the Bruins' 7-8-9 batters are hitting a collective .348 batting average (45-for-129) and .472 on-base percentage (16 walks). They have scored 31 runs and knocked in 21 RBI. Anna Vines and Janelle Meoño, two mainstays at the bottom of the lineup, have been on fire as of late. Entering this week, Meoño has hit 13-for-34 over UCLA's last 14 games to boost her season batting average by 48 points up to .327. In conference games, Anna Vines ranks third on the team with a .408 batting average (20-for-49).
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Continuing on the Note of Conference Domination
ยท Four UCLA hitters are hitting above .400 in its 24 conference games this season.
ยท Three UCLA hitters rank top three in homers during conference play.
ยท Megan Grant and Maya Brady rank first and second in extra-base hits during conf. play with 16 and 12, respectively.
ยท Megan Grant and Maya Brady rank first and second in slugging percentage in conf. play at .889 and .840, respectively.
ยท Megan Grant and Maya Brady are tied for first with 26 RBI during conf. play.
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Brady Joins Bates
Brady homered in each of UCLA's three games against Arizona (April 14-16) to stretch her streak to four straight games with a dinger. She is the first Bruin to accomplish that feat since B.B. Bates who homered five games in a row (Feb. 2013).
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Big Cat Hunter
Brady has dominated in her 10 career games against UCLA rival Arizona. Lifetime against the Wildcats, Brady is batting for a .517 average (15-for-29) and 1.310 slugging percentage with six home runs, five doubles and 12 RBI.
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200 Career Hits for Brady
Brady became the 35th player in UCLA history to record 200 hits in a career. She reached the milestone with a double to the right-center field wall in her first at-bat at BYU on May 1.
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Single-Season Records Watch for Brady
Maya Brady (.875 SLG) is on pace to have the best single-season slugging percentage by a Bruin since Megan Langenfeld when she set the UCLA record with a 1.085 mark in 2010. No Bruin has slugged over .900 since that season. Brady is also on pace for the first 20-homer season by a Bruin since Stephany LaRosa and Delaney Spaulding in 2015.
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More Feathers in the Helmet for Brady
Maya Brady is the only player in the country hitting for a .450-plus batting average with at least 55 runs batted in and 15 home runs. Brady has three multi-homer games this season (San Diego - Feb. 12; Fresno State - March 3; Washington - March 19), stretching her career total to five. She joins a pantheon of Bruin sluggers, becoming just the seventh player in program history to record at least five multi-homer games in their career.
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Approaching 1,000 & 100
Faraimo is 24 strikeouts away from becoming just the third player in UCLA history to record 1,000 strikeouts in a career. In the 1,000 K club are Anjelica Selden (1,441 SO; 2005-08) and Keira Goerl (1,095 SO; 2001-04).
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Faraimo is also on a fast track to 100 wins in her storied career, sitting just two away from the milestone with 98. She would become the fourth UCLA pitcher to reach that mark. One more win would surpass her former teammate and two-time Honda Cup winner Rachel Garcia. Among active leaders in the NCAA, Faraimo ranks sixth in strikeouts and second in wins.
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Both Sides of the Ball
UCLA is one of just two Power 5 teams to rank top 10 in the country in batting average (2nd - .344) and earned run average (7th - 1.56). Oklahoma is the only other team, and it leads the nation in both categories.
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The Queen is Back
Aaliyah Jordan has not skipped a beat since making her return following a year-long recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Jordan was named the Pac-12 Player of the Week for the second time in her career following her first home games in over a year against Stanford last week. She helped the Bruins to a top 10 sweep with a team-leading .571 batting average, two home runs, 1.429 slugging percentage, 10 total bases and three RBI.
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Jordan is a two-time NFCA First Team All-American, three-time All-Pac-12 First Team selection and is one of four remaining members from UCLA's 2019 NCAA Championship squad.
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200 Career RBI
With her two-run homer in game two against Stanford on April 1, Aaliyah Jordan became the sixth player in UCLA history to record 200 runs batted in for a career. Jordan, who has 208 career RBI, trails Tairia Mims Flowers and Stephany LaRosa for third on the all-time list. Jordan is also three doubles away from tying GiOnna DiSalvatore's program record of 65 career two-baggers.
ย
Back to Her Roots
Maya Brady has undertaken a new position this season as the Bruins' everyday shortstop following a left shoulder injury sustained by utility Seneca Curo. Brady grew up playing the position with her travel ball team OC Batbusters Stith.
ย
Brady Shatters 24-Year-Old Record
Maya Brady broke a 24-year-old record during UCLA's Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament. Brady recorded 11 consecutive base hits across four games, breaking the mark of 10 consecutive hits formerly held by UCLA legends Lisa Fernandez (March 1993) and Stacey Nuveman (Feb. 1999). In total, Brady opened the first week of 2023 going 13-for-16 with 13 RBI and four home runs to earn her NFCA Player of the Week honors for the first time in her career.
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More on the UCLA Freshmen, Because Why Not
Megan Grant saw her 24-game reached base streak come to an end last week at BYU. Grant also had a 14-game hitting streak going earlier this season. Both marks are the longest by a Bruin this season.
ย
Grab Some Pine
UCLA's pitching staff is dominating the conference once again. The Bruins' hurlers rank first in the conference in the following categories: strikeouts (369), shutouts (19), opposing batting average (.187) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.27). UCLA ranks second behind Stanford in earned run average at 1.56.
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UCLA has led the Pac-12 in ERA and wins in each of the last four seasons. In 2022, the Bruins' pitching staff led the Pac-12 in nearly every statistical category: ERA (1.72), strikeouts (486), wins (51), opposing batting average (.180) and saves (12).
Enter Sandwoman
Faraimo has been utilized in a reliever role frequently this season. Ten of her 26 winning decisions have come in relief. The rise-ball pitcher has been nearly automatic with 13 wins in each of her last 13 appearances. Faraimo owns a 0.92 ERA with two shutouts and an 8.26 K/7 rate across that stretch.
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Faraimo has thrown two no-hitters this season, improving her career total to seven solo no-hitters. Most recently, Faraimo no-hit No. 3 Florida on Feb. 23, marking the first time a Bruin pitcher no-hit a top 3 opponent since March 28, 2003, when Keira Goerl kept No. 2 Stanford out of the hit column. It was Faraimo's first no-no against a ranked opponent.
ย
Solid Outings from Yanez
Left-handed pitcher Brooke Yanez has gone at least 4.0 innings in each of her last three starts, picking up the win in each outing. The spinning lefty has thrown 6.0 innings and allowed just one earned run in each of her last two Pac-12 starts.
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Just Get on the Board
UCLA is 27-0 when scoring in the first inning and is 40-0 when it scores first in games this season.
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Three Bruins Return Home
This weekend will be a homecoming of sorts when LMU Head Coach Tairia Mims Flowers, San Diego State Head Coach Stacey Nuveman Deniz and San Diego State volunteer Delanie Wisz return to Easton Stadium.
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Flowers, one of the most clutch hitters in UCLA history, led the Bruins to four consecutive WCWS appearances from 2000-03, capped with an NCAA title in her senior season. She is in her third year leading the Lions' program.
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Nuveman Deniz is one of the greatest hitters in the history of the sport. The 1999 NCAA Champion set the NCAA home run record with her 86th on May 5, 2002 versus Oregon State. Her 90 career home runs are still the most in UCLA's record books. Nuveman Deniz is in her second season as head coach.
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The Bruins (48-4, 21-3) are led in the circle by redshirt senior Megan Faraimo who has picked up a win in each of her last 13 appearances. She leads the nation with 26 victories this season. At the plate, shortstop Maya Brady owns a Pac-12 leading .454 batting average and .875 slugging percentage.
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No. 2 UCLA (48-4, 21-3) vs. Loyola Marymount (25-17, 11-1)
Los Angeles, Calif. (Easton Stadium)
Friday, May 5 โ 1 p.m. (PT)
Watch: UCLA Live Stream
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No. 2 UCLA (48-4, 21-3) vs. San Diego State (32-13, 16-6)
Los Angeles, Calif. (Easton Stadium)
Friday, May 5 โ 6 p.m. (PT)
Watch: UCLA Live Stream
ย
Key Notes About the Bruins
ยท UCLA captured its 17th regular-season conference title and its 12th as a member of the Pac-10/12 Conference last week.
ยท As a result, the Bruins are the No. 1 seed in the upcoming inaugural Pac-12 Softball Tournament (May 10-13).
ยท The Bruins have won 21 straight games dating back to March 25.
ยท UCLA is riding a 17-game conference winning streak heading into the Pac-12 Softball Tournament next week.
ยท UCLA finished April an undefeated 17-0.
ยท UCLA enters the week ranking top 10 nationally in both batting average (2nd - .344) and earned run average (7th - 1.56). Oklahoma is the only other Power 5 team in the top 10 statistically for both categories.
ยท The Bruins' bats lead the Pac-12 in average (.344), slugging percentage (.545) and runs scored (344).
ยท And the Bruins' arms lead the Pac-12 in shutouts (19), strikeouts (369) and opposing batting average (.187).
ย
Spring Cleaning & Conference Domination
UCLA swept five consecutive Pac-12 foes to end its conference slate. The Bruins' 21 Pac-12 wins are their most in a season since 1999. For just the second time in the last 20 years (2021), UCLA has taken the season series against every Pac-12 opponents. The Bruins' 17-game conference winning streak is the longest among all Power 5 programs and is the Bruins' longest in a single season since 2002. UCLA is one of just three teams to not drop a conference series this year (Oklahoma and Florida State).
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Two Top 10 Finalists for Player of the Year
Redshirt junior utility Maya Brady and redshirt senior pitcher Megan Faraimo were named top 10 finalists for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. Faraimo (26-2, 1.15 ERA, 208 SO) has made the cut for the top 10 for the second time in her career (2021). This is Brady's first acknowledgement of her career. Brady (.454 AVG, 55 RBI, 16 HR) has been the anchor of the Bruins' lineup in the No. 2 spot this season. She leads the team in batting average, home runs, runs batted in and slugging percentage all while undertaking a new position defensively at shortstop. Two Bruins have been honored as USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year a total of three times (Rachel Garcia - 2019, 2018; Stacey Nuveman 2002).
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Two Top 25 Finalists for Freshman of the Year
The Bruins also boast two of the top freshmen in the country in utility Megan Grant and first baseman Jordan Woolery. UCLA is one of just two teams (Duke) to have two players listed as Top 25 Finalists for TUCCI/NFCA Freshman of the Year. Rachel Garcia (2017) is the only Bruin to win the award in its nine-year history. Grant and Woolery are each having two of the most productive seasons ever by a UCLA freshman. They have combined for 98 RBI this season which is the most by a freshman duo in UCLA history, passing the previous mark of 90 RBI set in 1997 by Stacey Nuveman (71) and Courtney Dale (19).
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Megantron
Faraimo, who has hauled in four Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week awards this season, has picked up a win in each of her last 13 appearances in the circle. Earlier this season, she set a career-long scoreless inning streak of 35.2 innings that was snapped in game three against Arizona on April 16. The two-time NFCA All-American boasts a miniscule WHIP of 0.78 this season. She is on pace to become first Bruin hurler since Ally Carda in 2015 to win 30 games in a season. The Oceanside, Calif. native picked up her 20th win of the season at Arizona on April 14, achieving the feat a full month earlier than she did in her 2022 campaign. Faraimo now has back-to-back 20-win, 200-strikeout seasons.
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Brady in the Hunt for the Triple Crown
Brady, who leads the Pac-12 in batting average with a .454 clip, is two off the conference in lead in home runs with 16 and three off the lead in runs batted in with 55. She trails Arizona State's Jordyn VanHook in HR (18) and Arizona's Allie Skaggs in RBI (58). There have been only three triple crown winners in conference history: Baylee Klingler (2022), Jenny Dalton (1995) and Stacey Nuveman (1999). The Pac-12 triple crown takes into account stats from the entire season.
ย
Brady & The Pac-12 Batting Title
Brady's .454 batting average leads Utah's Aliya Bellarde by a whole 19 points (.425) entering the final weekend of the regular season. The Pac-12 Batting Champion will be crowned after the regular season. UCLA's roster currently totes three former Pac-12 Batting Champions in Janelle Meoño (2021), Kelli Godin (2019) and Aaliyah Jordan (2018). Twelve UCLA players have won the conference batting title a total 15 times. Yvonne Gutierrez won the title twice in 1990 and 1991 and Stacey Nuveman won the title three times in 1999, 2001 and 2002.
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Ooh, That's a Fresh Note
Megan Grant's 55 runs batted in and Jordan Woolery's 44 runs batted in have made UCLA freshman class history. They are the only true freshmen in Bruins' history to each have recorded at least 37+ RBI in a single season. Their 98 combined RBI are the most by a freshman duo in a single season in UCLA history. The 98 RBI are tied with Indiana's Taryn Kern and Avery Parker for the most by a freshman duo this season. Grant's 55 RBI rank second among freshmen in the nation, trailing only Kern (62).
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Since softball was adopted by the NCAA, only four freshmen have led UCLA in runs batted in for a single season: Stephany LaRosa (2012, 61 RBI), Stacey Nuveman in (1997, 71 RBI), Janice Parks (1986, 19 RBI) and Chris Olivie (1985, 12 RBI).
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Chef Serving Appetizers
Last week in game three at Utah, Megan Grant belted her second lead-off home run of the season. The freshman phenom took over lead-off duties on April 2 versus No. 6 Stanford and has stayed in that roll ever since (17 games). Grant leads UCLA with 19 RBI, 44 total bases and 11 extra-base hits in that span.
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Fresh Faces in the Heart of the Lineup
Grant and Woolery have been mainstays in the top 5 of UCLA's lineup since the beginning of conference play. They have each recorded a grand slam and multi-homer game this season. In 24 conference games, Woolery and Grant rank first and third in the Pac-12 in hits with 32 and 29, respectively. Brady is tied with Woolery for 32 hits as well.
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Overall, Woolery's .409 batting average currently ranks fourth in UCLA freshman history, trailing Stacey Nuveman, Natasha Watley and her two teammates Aaliyah Jordan and Kelli Godin.
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Three Bruins Hitting Over .400
Joining Brady and Woolery in the above .400 club this season is freshman outfielder Kennedy Powell with a .402 average. UCLA has never had three hitters finish the season hitting .400 or above. Powell, who platoons into left field based on defensive alignments, has seen action in all 52 games this year.
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1-Through-9 Getting it Done
One of the biggest reasons for Megan Grant and Maya Brady's production is that the bottom of the lineup has been consistently getting on base. Over UCLA's last 16 games, the Bruins' 7-8-9 batters are hitting a collective .348 batting average (45-for-129) and .472 on-base percentage (16 walks). They have scored 31 runs and knocked in 21 RBI. Anna Vines and Janelle Meoño, two mainstays at the bottom of the lineup, have been on fire as of late. Entering this week, Meoño has hit 13-for-34 over UCLA's last 14 games to boost her season batting average by 48 points up to .327. In conference games, Anna Vines ranks third on the team with a .408 batting average (20-for-49).
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Continuing on the Note of Conference Domination
ยท Four UCLA hitters are hitting above .400 in its 24 conference games this season.
ยท Three UCLA hitters rank top three in homers during conference play.
ยท Megan Grant and Maya Brady rank first and second in extra-base hits during conf. play with 16 and 12, respectively.
ยท Megan Grant and Maya Brady rank first and second in slugging percentage in conf. play at .889 and .840, respectively.
ยท Megan Grant and Maya Brady are tied for first with 26 RBI during conf. play.
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Brady Joins Bates
Brady homered in each of UCLA's three games against Arizona (April 14-16) to stretch her streak to four straight games with a dinger. She is the first Bruin to accomplish that feat since B.B. Bates who homered five games in a row (Feb. 2013).
ย
Big Cat Hunter
Brady has dominated in her 10 career games against UCLA rival Arizona. Lifetime against the Wildcats, Brady is batting for a .517 average (15-for-29) and 1.310 slugging percentage with six home runs, five doubles and 12 RBI.
ย
200 Career Hits for Brady
Brady became the 35th player in UCLA history to record 200 hits in a career. She reached the milestone with a double to the right-center field wall in her first at-bat at BYU on May 1.
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Single-Season Records Watch for Brady
Maya Brady (.875 SLG) is on pace to have the best single-season slugging percentage by a Bruin since Megan Langenfeld when she set the UCLA record with a 1.085 mark in 2010. No Bruin has slugged over .900 since that season. Brady is also on pace for the first 20-homer season by a Bruin since Stephany LaRosa and Delaney Spaulding in 2015.
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More Feathers in the Helmet for Brady
Maya Brady is the only player in the country hitting for a .450-plus batting average with at least 55 runs batted in and 15 home runs. Brady has three multi-homer games this season (San Diego - Feb. 12; Fresno State - March 3; Washington - March 19), stretching her career total to five. She joins a pantheon of Bruin sluggers, becoming just the seventh player in program history to record at least five multi-homer games in their career.
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Approaching 1,000 & 100
Faraimo is 24 strikeouts away from becoming just the third player in UCLA history to record 1,000 strikeouts in a career. In the 1,000 K club are Anjelica Selden (1,441 SO; 2005-08) and Keira Goerl (1,095 SO; 2001-04).
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Faraimo is also on a fast track to 100 wins in her storied career, sitting just two away from the milestone with 98. She would become the fourth UCLA pitcher to reach that mark. One more win would surpass her former teammate and two-time Honda Cup winner Rachel Garcia. Among active leaders in the NCAA, Faraimo ranks sixth in strikeouts and second in wins.
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Both Sides of the Ball
UCLA is one of just two Power 5 teams to rank top 10 in the country in batting average (2nd - .344) and earned run average (7th - 1.56). Oklahoma is the only other team, and it leads the nation in both categories.
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The Queen is Back
Aaliyah Jordan has not skipped a beat since making her return following a year-long recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Jordan was named the Pac-12 Player of the Week for the second time in her career following her first home games in over a year against Stanford last week. She helped the Bruins to a top 10 sweep with a team-leading .571 batting average, two home runs, 1.429 slugging percentage, 10 total bases and three RBI.
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Jordan is a two-time NFCA First Team All-American, three-time All-Pac-12 First Team selection and is one of four remaining members from UCLA's 2019 NCAA Championship squad.
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200 Career RBI
With her two-run homer in game two against Stanford on April 1, Aaliyah Jordan became the sixth player in UCLA history to record 200 runs batted in for a career. Jordan, who has 208 career RBI, trails Tairia Mims Flowers and Stephany LaRosa for third on the all-time list. Jordan is also three doubles away from tying GiOnna DiSalvatore's program record of 65 career two-baggers.
ย
Back to Her Roots
Maya Brady has undertaken a new position this season as the Bruins' everyday shortstop following a left shoulder injury sustained by utility Seneca Curo. Brady grew up playing the position with her travel ball team OC Batbusters Stith.
ย
Brady Shatters 24-Year-Old Record
Maya Brady broke a 24-year-old record during UCLA's Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament. Brady recorded 11 consecutive base hits across four games, breaking the mark of 10 consecutive hits formerly held by UCLA legends Lisa Fernandez (March 1993) and Stacey Nuveman (Feb. 1999). In total, Brady opened the first week of 2023 going 13-for-16 with 13 RBI and four home runs to earn her NFCA Player of the Week honors for the first time in her career.
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More on the UCLA Freshmen, Because Why Not
Megan Grant saw her 24-game reached base streak come to an end last week at BYU. Grant also had a 14-game hitting streak going earlier this season. Both marks are the longest by a Bruin this season.
ย
Grab Some Pine
UCLA's pitching staff is dominating the conference once again. The Bruins' hurlers rank first in the conference in the following categories: strikeouts (369), shutouts (19), opposing batting average (.187) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.27). UCLA ranks second behind Stanford in earned run average at 1.56.
ย
UCLA has led the Pac-12 in ERA and wins in each of the last four seasons. In 2022, the Bruins' pitching staff led the Pac-12 in nearly every statistical category: ERA (1.72), strikeouts (486), wins (51), opposing batting average (.180) and saves (12).
Enter Sandwoman
Faraimo has been utilized in a reliever role frequently this season. Ten of her 26 winning decisions have come in relief. The rise-ball pitcher has been nearly automatic with 13 wins in each of her last 13 appearances. Faraimo owns a 0.92 ERA with two shutouts and an 8.26 K/7 rate across that stretch.
ย
Faraimo has thrown two no-hitters this season, improving her career total to seven solo no-hitters. Most recently, Faraimo no-hit No. 3 Florida on Feb. 23, marking the first time a Bruin pitcher no-hit a top 3 opponent since March 28, 2003, when Keira Goerl kept No. 2 Stanford out of the hit column. It was Faraimo's first no-no against a ranked opponent.
ย
Solid Outings from Yanez
Left-handed pitcher Brooke Yanez has gone at least 4.0 innings in each of her last three starts, picking up the win in each outing. The spinning lefty has thrown 6.0 innings and allowed just one earned run in each of her last two Pac-12 starts.
ย
Just Get on the Board
UCLA is 27-0 when scoring in the first inning and is 40-0 when it scores first in games this season.
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Three Bruins Return Home
This weekend will be a homecoming of sorts when LMU Head Coach Tairia Mims Flowers, San Diego State Head Coach Stacey Nuveman Deniz and San Diego State volunteer Delanie Wisz return to Easton Stadium.
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Flowers, one of the most clutch hitters in UCLA history, led the Bruins to four consecutive WCWS appearances from 2000-03, capped with an NCAA title in her senior season. She is in her third year leading the Lions' program.
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Nuveman Deniz is one of the greatest hitters in the history of the sport. The 1999 NCAA Champion set the NCAA home run record with her 86th on May 5, 2002 versus Oregon State. Her 90 career home runs are still the most in UCLA's record books. Nuveman Deniz is in her second season as head coach.
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Players Mentioned
UTIL
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
P/1B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballUCLA Softball Postgame - Coach Inouye-Perez & Players, vs. Tennessee (June 1, 2025)
Sunday, June 01
UCLA Softball Postgame - Coach Inouye-Perez & Players, vs. Texas Tech (May 31, 2025)
Saturday, May 31
Highlights - UCLA Softball vs. Oregon (May 29, 2025)
Thursday, May 29
UCLA Softball Postgame - Coach Inouye-Perez & Players, vs. Oregon (May 29, 2025)
Thursday, May 29