Taylor Tinsley helps UCLA softball bounce back against South Carolina in NCAA regional

LOS ANGELES — Every UCLA softball pitcher keeps a journal. Taylor Tinsley, the Bruins’ ace, fills her with positive affirmations.

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“I will do this for my team today,” Tinsley said of her journal entries. “I will do this for myself today. I will stick to my routine, so just kind of talking to myself in that way. And I take that on to the mound as well.”

The senior spinner bounced back from a game in which UCLA allowed 10 runs in a single inning to lead the Bruins to a 7-2 win over South Carolina in the NCAA Los Angeles Regional.

UCLA (49-8), the No. 8 national seed, will next play at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday against the winner of Saturday evening’s game between South Carolina and the winner of Saturday’s 4:30 p.m. game between Cal State Fullerton and California Baptist.

Tinsley (29-6) threw her 21st complete game of the season in her second straight start on Friday. She gave up seven hits and two runs while striking out six hitters.

The offense matched the level of Tinsley’s performance, scoring six runs in the second inning for a 6-1 lead that the Gamecocks (31-27), who beat Cal State Fullerton 7-4 on Friday, didn’t have an answer for.

“That bounce-back is something that is really impressive, and this team can hit,” head coach Kelly Inouye-Perez said. “I’m proud from top to bottom. Their ability to continue to do this in the postseason is something that was the plan. That’s a tough component, but we came just to play softball today, and I’m proud of how we played.”

South Carolina right fielder Jamie Mackay was first on the scoreboard and gave her team a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. The senior, who prepped at Pacifica Christian, hit a leadoff home run off the left field wall on the second pitch that UCLA’s Taylor Tinsley dealt to her.

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The Gamecocks got one more runner on base in the frame when a hit to left field by Lexie Winters took an odd bounce and allowed her to single. Tinsley struck out two hitters and the defense forced a flyout to escape the inning.

Bri Alejandre hit her 22nd home run of the season as part of the Bruins’ second-inning offensive response. The Gamecocks changed pitchers and brought in Emma Friedel after Jori Heard gave up a single to Kaniya Bragg.

Alexis Ramirez (2 for 3) doubled down the third base line after Friedel entered the circle and Soo-Jin Berry hit a two-run double to left center to score Bragg and Ramirez, giving UCLA a 5-1 lead.

Megan Grant’s solo home run —  her 39th of the season and first of the regional — punctuated the inning.

South Carolina’s Quincee Lilio hit her second home run in as many games in the top of the third, and the Gamecocks threatened to score in the next inning, but UCLA turned a double play to get Kate Byars to fly out and Tate Davis out at third base.

“That was really fun,” Tinsley said. “I think it just shows that we’re our best when we’re really loose, and we’re having fun with it. At the end of the day, our team is really focused on just having fun on and off the field. Our chemistry is great, and I think that shows up in our play for sure.”

Freshman Aleena Garcia homered over the center field wall to resume the Bruins’ scoring in the bottom of the fifth to the tune of 7-2, and force the Gamecocks to make another pitching change and bring in Nealy Lamb to close out the game.

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NCAA Los Angeles Regional

Who: UCLA vs. TBD

When: Sunday, 4:30 p.m.

Where: Easton Stadium

TV: TBD