No. 2 UCLA tops Gophers 2-1 in regional final

The No. 24 University of Minnesota softball team ended its season at the Los Angeles Regional when the Golden Gophers fell, 2-1, to No. 2 overall seed UCLA. The Gophers closed out the season with a 31-13 record.

In a pitcher’s duel, Minnesota’s Autumn Pease pitched a gem. She went the distance and allowed two runs and just seven hits against the Bruins. Striking out seven, she did not allow a walk in 94 total pitches. With the loss, Pease dropped to 12-3 this season and held a team-best 1.76 earned run average.

Megan Faraimo started the game for the Bruins and pitched an inning and two thirds. She allowed the lone run, when she allowed a home run, a double and hit by pitch. However, Rachel Garcia came into the game and allowed a hit in five and a third innings to claim her 16th win of the season.
Megan Dray added Minnesota’s lone run when she belted a home run in the second inning. Overall, she went 1-for-3. MaKenna Partain was 1-for-4, while Emily Hansen was 1-for-3 with a double.

Dray hit her second home run of the season when she broke the scoreless in the bottom of the second. The Bruins, however, took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth off a two-run RBI single. It would be all that Garcia would need for the win. The Bruins threatened in the top of the sixth with two in scoring position, but UCLA attempted a sac fly and the runner at third base left early for the double play.

The regional final marked the last collegiate game for seniors Carlie Brandt, Amber Fiser, Macy Gill, Katelyn Kemmetmueller and Partain. Brandt played in 185 career games for the Gophers, while Fiser held a 1.70 career ERA and 953 strikeouts. Gill saw action in 97 career games, while Kemmetmueller appeared in 178 career games. Partain finished her career starting in 245 career games and 222 runs scored. Her 245 starts ranks fourth in school history, while her 222 tops the Gopher record books.