UCLA softball falls apart in the seventh against Oregon series opener

No. 5 UCLA softball lost their third Big Ten Conference game with their 8-2 loss in the series opener against No. 11 Oregon at Easton Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif. on Friday.

The Bruinsprevious two conference losses both came at the hands of the No. 3 Nebraska Cornhuskers at the end of March. Against Oregon, UCLA's batters struggled to put pressure on the Ducks pitching staff with just seven hits throughout the game, while the Bruins senior right-handed pitcher Taylor Tinsley allowed 13 hits.

Starting off right

UCLA started off hot with sophomore outfielder Rylee Slimp crossing home plate in the bottom of the first for the first run of the game.

Missed opportunities

Both teams missed out on plenty of opportunities to add runs in the next few innings. Oregon had two runners on base in the top of the third and the bases loaded in the top of the fourth. The Ducks were unable to get on the scoreboard either time.

UCLA was in a similar predicament, with the bases loaded off of two hits in the bottom of the third, but they couldn't get any of the runners home. The Bruins carried their 1-0 lead into the fifth.

Fifth inning action

The Ducks were able to take the lead in the top of the fifth by blasting two home runs and putting Tinsley and the Bruins on notice. UCLA's batters responded in the bottom of the fifth with freshman utility Jolyna Lamar beginning their half of the inning with a home run to right field and tying the game at 2-2.

Scoreless sixth

In the top of the sixth, Oregon was able to make contact with another one of Tinsley's pitches, but the game remained tied heading into the seventh.

Falling apart in the seventh

Everything went wrong for UCLA's defensive unit in the top of the seventh with Oregon's batters six-hits leading to six-runs. The Ducks' scoring frenzy featured a three-run homer and a two-run home run to propel them far ahead of the Bruins. UCLA wasn't able to comeback from the disaster in the first half of the inning and they dropped their series opener.

UCLA will have a chance at redemption with their second game against Oregon on Saturday with an anticipated start time of 1:30 p.m. PT.

This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA softball drops third conference loss in Oregon series opener