The No. 2 ranked UCLA softball team can clinch the top spot in the Pac-12 if they can win one or two games against visiting Arizona on Friday and Saturday. The Bruins are 19-2 in league play but Washington and Arizona are close behind at 17-4. The Bruins need a combination of things to happen this weekend to claim the league championship.
Friday's game against the Wildcats starts at 5 p.m. and Saturday's game starts at 12 p.m. These will be the last regular games before the NCAA regional playoffs start on Friday, May 17. The series between the Wildcats and Bruins should get both teams ready for the playoffs.
The Bruins will go into the series this weekend with seven batters hitting over .300. Kelli Godin leads the pack with a .441 average followed by Bubba Nickles at .403, Brianna Perez at .398, Taylor Pack is batting .392. Rounding out the 300 hitters is Aaliyan Jordan at .386, Rachel Garcia is hitting .348 and Paige Halstead is hitting .302.
UCLA can also hit the long ball. Nickles has 13 home runs and 55 runs batted in. Pack has nine home runs and Jordan has nine home runs, 47 runs batted in and 17 doubles. Sophomore Kinsley Washington, who plays several positions, is batting .283.
When you lose only three games obviously UCLAs' pitching is very good. Garcia is still one of the best pitchers in the nation and she comes into the weekend with a record of 20-0. Holly Azevedo is 10-0 and freshman Megan Faraimo is 15-3.
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