Ficke Earns First Career Win at CSUN

NORTHRDIGE, Calif. – Junior Mackenzie Ficke pitched a complete game to earn the first win of her collegiate career in a 14-5 mercy-rule victory over CSUN at Matador Diamond Tuesday afternoon.
 
Ficke picked up the first two strikeouts of her career and blanked the Matadors in three of the five innings. Offensively, the Bruins (31-10, 14-4 Pac-12) matched a season-high in runs, scoring in every inning, and tallied 11 hits.
 
Megan Grant totaled a career-high six runs batted in and hit her second grand slam of the season in the top of the fifth inning to put the mercy rule into effect. The sophomore from San Bruno, Calif. also doubled in the game. The Bruins have now hit grand slams in back-to-back games (other: Sharlize Palacios).
 
Shortstop Maya Brady went 2-for-2 and recorded three RBI. Jordan Woolery joined Brady and Grant with two hits of her own. Fifteen total Bruins saw action in the game, including Kate Blunt and Liesl Osteen who each made appearances in the field for the second and first times this season, respectively.
 
UCLA scored one run in the first inning on a routine fly ball hit by Grant that was dropped by the Matadors' (20-23) left fielder.
 
A walk to Thessa Malau'ulu and a Jayla Castro hit-by-pitch set up a sacrifice bunt opportunity for Janelle Meoño in the second inning. The speedy center fielder executed the bunt and was able to reach safely and advance another bag on a throwing error by CSUN's pitcher. Malau'ulu was able to score on the play. A sacrifice fly to left field by Brady pushed one more across, stretching the score to 3-0, before the inning came to a close.
 
Ficke's first-pitch strike to start her outing eased her nerves. The Los Alamitos High School product, making her first collegiate start, cruised through the first two innings with only one runner reaching base via walk.
 
The Bruins came out swinging in the third determined to provide Ficke with more run support. Savannah Pola led off with a single and was brought home on Grant's double into the left-center gap. After a wild pitch moved Grant into scoring position, Woolery smacked an RBI single through the right side to extend the lead to 5-0.
 
Meoño ignited a three-run fourth inning with a high-chopper to the pitcher. The throw was muffed by the CSUN first baseman and Meoño moved up another 60 feet. Brady laced a single up the middle to easily score Meoño from second base. The next batter, Jadelyn Allchin, drove a double into the right-center gap to bring home Brady. One out later, Allchin scored from second base on a 4-3 putout.
 
UCLA racked up five hits in a six-run top of the fifth. Madison Pacini and Brady each recorded a pinch-hit single prior to Grant's grand slam.
 
The Bruins close the regular season this weekend in Tempe, Ariz. for a three-game series versus Arizona State at Farrington Stadium. First pitch for game one Friday, May 3 is scheduled for 6 p.m. (PT). All three games will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks.