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LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Big West champion UC Santa Barbara dropped its opening game of the Los Angeles Regional in the 2025 NCAA Softball Championship against host-site and No. 9 seeded UCLA, 8-1 (6 inn.) on Friday evening at Easton Stadium.  

This game goes down as UCSB's first game in the national stage in the NCAA's 2007 when the Guachos bested UCLA durimng the regular season. 

The Bruins broke the game open with a double deep down right center from the bat of Savanah Pola before the Gauchos shut the door and prevented UCLA from scoring.  

Alexa Sams amassed the first hit of the afternoon for UCSB with a single down the right side. The next at bat, Fuentes reached on a fielding error to put two Guacho runners on base. Another single, this time from Delaina Ma'ae, knocked in a runner to give the Gauchos an early 1-0 advantage following the top half of the second inning.  

A single up the middle from Fuentes with two outs helped the spark the Gauchos while Ma'ae walked the following AB. A fly out would stall UCSB's attack in the fourth frame the next play. 

From there, the Bruins regained momentum following a Kaityln Terry deep shot right down broadway, sending in three scores. Terry would spend time in the circle and begin to pitch after going yard for UCLA.  

Cal Poly transfer and 2024 Big West Field Player of the Year, Jessica Clements sealed the deal for UCLA after cranking a three-run shot to center field to pile onto the Bruin lead, 6-1. Ainsley Waddell stepped into the circle in relief of Johnson when UCLA added another pair of runs including a solo shot in the bottom six to make the score 8-1 and make the run rule go into effect.  

Malaya Johnson allowed eight hits while striking out one Bruin in the opening game. Ma'ae highlighted UCSB's offense with a hit and an RBI.  

UC Santa Barbara will now enter an elimination game, facing the loser of Arizona State and San Diego State tomorrow, Saturday at 4:30 p.m. With a win, the team's postseason journey would immediately continue against the loser of the first game of the day between UCLA . All three games will broadcast on the ESPN family of networks live from Easton Stadium on the campus of UCLA.