UC Santa Barbara's exciting 2025 campaign comes to a curtain call in an elimination game loss versus host-site and No. 9 seeded UCLA, 12-1 (5 inn.) in the NCAA Softball Championship Los Angeles Regional Final on Saturday afternoon at Easton Stadium.
UCSB secured its first two NCAA Championship wins in program history with a pair of thrilling victories versus Arizona State, and (RV) San Diego State, 4-3 (10 inn.) and 7-5, (8 inn.), respectively.
This is the second straight season a Big West representative has advanced to a Regional Final.
| No. 9 seed UCLA 12, UC Santa Barbara 1 (5 innings) |
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LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Alexa Sams made a terrific catch in left field to record the first out of the game. From there, UCLA loaded the bases and scored four straight runs, capitalizing off an early Guacho error.
Tehya Banks broke open UCSB’s bats with a single right down the middle for the first Guacho hit of the contest to close out the first frame.
The Bruins bolstered a leadoff double in the second inning and then scored once more off a Jessica Clements single to extend the UCLA lead, 5-0. Banks made a highlight reel catch laying it at out at shortstop for the first out of the inning. UCLA plated another run from a Megan Grant single making the game 6-0. With the bases loaded once again, the Bruins sent another set runs home for an 8-0 lead.
Sams started the bottom of the second with the team’s second hit of the day accounting as leadoff double. After advancing on a ground out, Ainsley Waddell was able to send Sams home, rifling a single to centerfield to score UCSB’s first run of the game.
Pitchers Ava Bradford and Sam Stoll entered the circle for the first time this weekend in relief of Malaya Johnson in the second inning.
Jordan Woolery and Grant blasted two solo home runs in the top of the fourth inning before the Bruins added another made the game 11-1.Waddell came into the game as the pitcher and notched a quick punchout to close the fourth frame. After adding another run, UCLA closed out the Regional Final with a 12-1 victory. The Bruins belted four home runs on the day.
2025 Big West Champion UC Santa Barbara caps its season off with an overall record of 36-27. This was UCSB’s first NCAA postseason since 2007 and fourth overall during the program’s proud 43-year history.
The Gauchos placed six student athletes on The Big West's All-Conference teams including Big West Pitcher of the Year, Malaya Johnson alongside a pair of first teamers with Bella Fuentes and Giselle Mejia. The 2025 team also broke numerous single-season records including home runs, runs scored, runs batted in, doubles and hits.
Gallery: (5-18-2025) 2025 SB NCAA L.A Regional: UCSB vs UCLA