No. 16/18 Softball blasts No. 5/6 UCLA in WCWS opener, 7-2

Thursday, June 2

Oklahoma City, Okla.

11 a.m. CT

University of Texas

44-19-1

#5/6 UCLA

48-9

Texas

UCLA

No. 16/18 Softball blasts No. 5/6 UCLA in WCWS opener, 7-2

06.02.2022 | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Freshman 3B Mia Scott led the offensive charge by going 4-for-4 with a double, a triple and two RBIs

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Back at the Women's College World Series for the first time since 2013, No. 16/18 Texas softball (44-19-1) announced its return to the sport's showcase event with a bang on Thursday by blowing past No. 5/6 UCLA (48-9), 7-2.

The Longhorns now advance into the winner's bracket where they will battle No. 1 Oklahoma on Sat., June 4, at 2 p.m. CT live on ABC.

Notes

Texas' five-run margin of victory was the largest ever for the Longhorns in a WCWS game
Texas' seven runs against UCLA were its most in a WCWS game (the old record was six against Arizona State back on May 30, 2013).
Texas is 5-1 in WCWS openers and has now won five in a row dating back to 2003.
Texas broke the program all-time single-season records for runs (373) and hits (530) during the win over the Bruins.
This was Texas' first WCWS win since June 2, 2013, a span of 3,287 days
Texas picked up its first WCWS win over UCLA. The Longhorns were previously 0-4 against the Bruins in Oklahoma City after losses in 2003 (two), 2005 & 2006.
Texas' 13 hits were the most allowed in a single game by UCLA pitching this season.
Senior catcher Mary Iakopo blasted her 50th career HR on a two-run shot in the fourth inning.
Freshman third baseman Mia Scott tied her career high with four hits and ended up just a HR short of hitting for the cycle as part of her 4-for-4, double, triple, two-RBI effort.
In all, seven of the Longhorns starters had hits against UCLA, while eight-of-nine reached base safely.

Major Players

Freshman third baseman Mia Scott (4-for-4, run, double, triple, two RBIs); senior catcher Mary Iakopo (2-for-3, run, walk, HR, two RBIs); sophomore center fielder Bella Dayton (2-for-4, two runs, HR, two RBIs); sophomore shortstop Alyssa Washington (1-for-4, run, RBI); senior second baseman Janae Jefferson (1-for-4, run); sophomore first baseman JJ Smith (2-for-4)

In the Circle

Senior Hailey Dolcini (23-10) picked up her fourth 2022 NCAA Tournament win over a ranked opponent by allowing two earned runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts in a complete-game effort.

The Details

Texas threatened immediately in the top of the first as Scott kicked things off by beating out a one-out bunt single. With two retired, Iakopo lined a sharp base knock to left that was misplayed for an error as Texas suddenly had two runners in scoring position. Unfortunately, a strikeout stranded the duo on the base paths as the Longhorns missed an early chance for a breakthrough.

The Bruins put together a threat of their own during the bottom of the first as shortstop Briana Perez drove a one-out double to left center. Catcher Delanie Wisz stepped up next and dumped a single into shallow center. UT's Dayton charged the ball, fielded it cleanly and fired a tone-setting strike to the plate in plenty of time as Iakopo applied the tag to keep UCLA off the board.

Following a quiet second frame, the Burnt Orange & White offense exploded in the top of the third against Pac-12 Conference Pitcher of the Year Megan Faraimo. Dayton kicked off the outburst by singling to center and quickly swiping second. Texas appeared to have grabbed the lead as Jefferson dropped a bunt that was thrown away to first allowing Dayton to score. Upon video review, the senior All-American was judged to have interfered by running outside the base line for an out as Dayton was forced to return to her original position on the base paths. That call didn't matter much, however, as Scott stepped into the box and launched a run-scoring double off the top of the centerfield wall to again hand Texas a 1-0 lead. The hit parade continued unabated as Washington drove in a run on a single to left, and Iakopo followed with a two-run bomb down the left-field line as Texas' advantage grew to 4-0.

Scott was at it again for the Longhorns in the top of the fourth as the Angleton, Texas, native followed up Jefferson's two-out single with a RBI double to left center to make it 5-0.

The Texas assault continued into the top of the sixth as Smith kick-started another outburst with a base knock to left. Dayton came to the dish with a chance to do more damage and quickly boosted the gap to a commanding 7-0 via a two-run HR to right.

UCLA eventually broke up Dolcini's shutout bid in the bottom of the sixth as Wisz hit a two-run HR to left to make it 7-2. That was as close as the Bruins could get, however, as UT's 6-0 right hander retired the last four batters she faced to send Texas on to the winner's bracket.