Hoosiers’ Upset Bid at No. 9 UCLA Falls Short

The Indiana Hoosiers’ (27-8, 7-3) upset bid fell just short Friday night at No. 9 UCLA. The Bruins got a sixth-inning three-run home run by Rylie Slimp turned a 3-2 IU lead into a 5-3 UCLA advantage. IU would put the go-ahead run on base in the top of the seventh, but only managed to plate one, and the game ended 5-4.

Key Moments (From Indiana)

• Indiana’s defense set the tone early, as it ended the first inning with a 6-4-3 double play to keep the score at 0-0.

• After a scoreless first two innings, Aly VanBrandt broke the tie with a double to left field to score Jada Ellison and Cassidy Kettleman and put IU up 2-0.

• Megan Grant and the Bruins countered in the bottom of the inning as she doubled to help bring home one run and make it a 2-1 game.

• Alex Cooper doubled to left center and scored Alli Gavin to give Indiana an insurance run in the top of the fifth.

• After a bases-loaded walk to score one for UCLA and cut the lead down to 3-2, Brooke Mannon struck out Bri Alejandre and pitched to a groundout to escape the jam and keep the lead.  

• Rylee Slimp hit a 3-run home run over the right center wall to put UCLA up 5-3 in the bottom of the sixth.

• Indiana was able to score one run on the game’s final play, before the double play concluded the action.

Notables (From Indiana)

• Tonight’s game was the first regular-season contest as conference opponents between both softball programs.

• Indiana used four pitchers tonight and each allowed no more than two runs.

• Taylor Hess threw three-straight strikeouts spanning from the third to fourth innings.

• Six different Hoosiers registered a hit.

Up Next

Indiana will be back in Easton Stadium tomorrow night for a 9 p.m. game (ET) against the Bruins.