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Texas trounces UCLA in Women’s College World Series opener

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Texas is making a pattern of postseason upsets, and its latest victim was No. 5-seeded UCLA.

The Longhorns upset the Bruins 7-2 in the opening game of the NCAA Women’s College World Series on Thursday morning in Oklahoma City.

Unseeded Texas, which is making its first WCWS appearance since 2013, also upset fourth-seeded Arkansas in the Fayetteville Super Regional last weekend in Arkansas.

It’s the first time the Longhorns have beaten the Bruins in WCWS play.

“We didn’t deserve to win that game,” UCLA coach Kelly Inouye-Perez said. “But, I have a lot of belief and faith in this team and if we play the way we’re capable of playing, then that’s what we have to look forward to.”

In UCLA’s seventh consecutive trip to the WCWS, it trailed 7-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning. Delanie Wisz cracked a two-run blast for her team-leading 15th home run of the season. While it wasn’t enough to spark a late-game comeback, the Bruins see it as a source of pride.

“Those are the things that we hold on to,” Inouye-Perez said. “That is huge momentum. And that’s what I told the team. We didn’t quit. That’s something that is important. We didn’t quit.”

The home run was one of just six hits Texas pitcher Hailey Dolcini gave up in seven innings. She also logged two strikeouts and walked two.

Texas (44-19-1) busted the game open at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium with a four-run third inning. At the start of the frame, a video review revealed batter interference at first base, which removed a run from the scoreboard and moved Bella Dayton, who scored the initial run, back to second base.

The Longhorns were undeterred against UCLA starting pitcher Megan Faraimo. Mia Scott was able to get that run back, tripling off the wall to bring in Dayton. Alyssa Washington continued the scoring with an RBI single and Mary Iakopo launched a two-run homer to left field for a 4-0 lead.

“I have so much respect for UCLA and their ability to come back late in games,” Texas coach Mike White said. “I know what they can do and so we have to start being aggressive. We want to keep the momentum going.”

Holly Azevedo came in to relieve Faraimo, who gave up six hits with one strikeout in 2 1/3 innings, and got the Bruins (48-9) out of the inning. Lauren Shaw pitched the final two innings for the Bruins, allowing two hits and a walk and no runs.

“Obviously, I didn’t execute the way I would want to,” said Faraimo, the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year. “I’m just glad that we got back in the dugout and Holly, I think, had my back. And I think Lauren Shaw had my back. We’re just prepared to get after it tomorrow.”

An RBI double from Scott in the fourth inning and a Dayton two-run home run in the sixth gave the Longhorns a 7-0 advantage.

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Wisz prevented the shutout with her two-run homer to left field that drove in Kinsley Washington.

UCLA looks to avoid elimination with a game at 4 p.m. Friday against top-seeded Oklahoma or No. 9 Northwestern.

“(We’re) lucky that the bracket is built this way and ready to fight tomorrow,” UCLA shortstop Briana Perez said. “That’s what our game is all about, is just what you do next.”

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