When UCLA loses, it loses big! The No. 2 Bruins (25-2) have only two losses on the season thus far, but both have been of the run-rule variety. The first was a 14-0 loss to No. 1 Oklahoma in the Mary Nutter Classic two weeks ago. The Sooners are going to make a lot of teams look bad, so this UCLA loss, while surprising, was not shocking.
The Bruins' second run-rule loss, which came 8-0 (5 innings) to Cal in the middle game of the teams' three-game series, is truly shocking! The Golden Bears tied for last in the Pac 12 last year. Cal appears to be improved this season, with an overall 18-6 record so far. One conceivably could imagine the Bears beating the Bruins in a game. But run-ruling them? UCLA ace Megan Faraimo pitched briefly in relief in the Bruins' loss, giving up, consecutively, a single, double, single, and homer in the third inning and recording only one out.
UCLA did win the first (4-0) and third (10-1, 6 innings) games of the Cal series, though.
No. 3 Oklahoma State took two of three from No. 5/6 Florida State, with the Seminoles taking the opener and the Cowgirls winning the last two games.