Arizona softball to rematch UCLA in winner’s bracket of Women’s College World Series

The Wildcats took two of three from UCLA in Westwood earlier in the month

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Arizona softball team got sweet revenge on Washington to open the Women’s College World Series on Thursday.

Now, the UCLA Bruins will be trying to do the same against the Wildcats in the winner’s bracket. The No. 2 Bruins beat No. 7 Minnesota 7-2 on Thursday to set up a rematch between the longtime Pac-12 rivals on Friday (4 p.m. PT, ESPN).

Arizona (48-12) won two of three at UCLA (52-6) to cap the regular season a few weeks ago. Before that, the Bruins had won five straight against the Wildcats, including a two-game sweep in Super Regionals that ended UA’s 2018 season.

“Well, we’ve played them before so we’re familiar with one another,” UA coach Mike Candrea said after the win vs. UW. “On this stage, at this moment, it’s just about competing like we did today. You have to have great pitching. You got to play good defense. You have to have some timely hits.

“I think any time we’re playing a Pac-12 foe, they are very familiar with us, it’s going to come down to that.”

Fatigue could play a factor, too, if both teams want to start their No. 1 pitchers. Arizona ace Taylor McQuillin threw 141 pitches in UA’s 3-1 extra-inning win over Washington, while UCLA ace Rachel Garcia, the back-to-back USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, tossed 112 pitches in the Bruins’ win over Minnesota.

Garcia is 25-1 on the season, the lone loss coming against the Wildcats on May 9 when Arizona tagged her for five runs (four earned) in seven innings. The junior right-hander did strike out 15 batters, though.

Garcia, who’s hitting .348, also drove in two runs in UCLA’s win over Minnesota.

This story will be updated.

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