It was a rough series for the Huskies last weekend in Eugene, with the Dawgs getting swept by the hated Ducks, in what was sort of a barometer series for the team to test themselves against tougher competition. Our own Andrew Berg suggested that it showed the team could generate offense, but struggled containing the opposing bats when they got hot. That familiar story also played out this weekend against UCLA, as the Huskies were able to generate a few runs, but couldn’t overcome the Bruins fully,
losing all 3 games played this weekend.
The first game started badly for the Dawgs, as Morgan Reimer gave up 3 home runs (2 to Utility player Megan Grant), plus an RBI double to put the Huskies in a hole through 5 innings. The Dawgs would finally get on the board, thanks to a solo shot from Mila Reddy, but that would be answered with a Riley Slimp RBI double for the Bruins, making the deficit 5-1. The Huskies would roar back, with a 3 run double from Sophi Mazzola, making it 5-4. Kaycie Burdick followed that offensive outburst with an RBI double of her own, but she was caught and ruled out trying to stretch it to 3 bases. The game was put out of reach in the seventh, when Bri Allejandre hit a 2 run homer, stretching the Bruin lead to 7-5, giving UCLA the win. It wasn’t all bad, though, as Ava Carroll went 2-3 with 2 singles, but the Dawgs are going to have to figure out how to generate more offense down the stretch in the later innings if they want to be considered among the nation’s elite teams.
The second game started on a more optimistic note, with Ava Carroll bashing an RBI double, scoring Alexis Deboer.
UCLA would answer with a 2 run home run of their own, putting them in the lead, but Gabi Toney would tie the game in the bottom of the second with a solo home run of her own. With the game tied, both Rylee Slimp and Jordan Woolery added solo shots, making it 4-2 in the top of the third. A costly E6 by Melody Acevedo let in 2 more runs, widening the lead to 6-2. Despite an attempt by the Dawgs’ Giselle Alvarez to steal home, off a Melody Acevado hit and run, she was cut off at the plate. From there, the offense for both teams stalled, until a 7th inning homer by Megan Grant made the game 7-2 in favor of the Bruins, where the score would stay.
Sunday was Senior Day, which meant that starting pitcher Sophia Ramuno would be celebrated by the Husky faithful. Unfortunately for Ramuno and for the Dawgs, it was not a happy ending, as they dropped this game 9-1, thanks in part to a 5 run 5th inning, which would propel the Bruins over the line, and lead to the Dawgs getting run ruled, as they would fall by a score of 9-1.
As my colleague Andrew Berg said last week, the Huskies can generate offense, but they have shown that they can’t shut down an opponent after scoring and generating said offense. That reared its ugly head last week against Oregon, and again this week against the Bruins. Until the pitching and defense issue gets sorted, the Huskies will merely be very good, instead of among the elite programs in the nation.
The Huskies have the regular season finale against Ohio State this weekend.
