To beat a bear one has to stand its ground, make a lot of noise and make itself look big. 

Oregon stood still, made a lot of noise and certainly was big in Game 1. Elon Butler and Stefini Ma’ake delivered the noise, Elise Sokolsky stood her ground in the circle and put up a big 6-2 win in Los Angeles on Friday. 

No. 15 Oregon (39-10, 19-3 Big Ten) started its last regular season series off with an 8-2 win over the potent offense of No. 6 UCLA (44-6, 19-3 Big Ten). 

Coming into the game the biggest fear were Bruins Jordan Woolery and Megan Grant, who are the first teammates in softball history to each have 30+ home runs. Along with those home runs, Woolery came in with 102 RBIs and a .510 average, while Grant entered with 73 and a .472 average. 

As a team the Bruins came in hitting .378, they got on base at a perfect 50 percent of the time and slugged at an .837 clip. Oregon pitching was going to have more than just their work cut out for them.

Elise Sokolsky got the nod for Game 1. Senior Taylor Tinsley, the Bruins’ ace, was in the circle for UCLA. 

Sokolsky got two outs, but put two on in the first. Aleena Garcia drew first blood with a one-run double into right center field. 

The Bruins used the ambush approach at the plate. They attacked early against Sokolsky, but despite the early double, the senior was poised in the circle. She attacked the potent lineup with her drop ball and stayed low in the zone.

Against one of the top offenses in college softball, Sokolsky delivered a formidable performance across her 6 innings of work. She gave up seven hits, but only two runs and logged two strikeouts.

The Ducks offense was working hard against Tinsley and it wasn’t until the fourth inning that the lineup began to click.

The Ducks started the top of the frame off hot. Back-to-back singles from Stefini Ma’ake and Kaylynn Jones, and it looked like the Ducks had UCLA’s backs up against the wall.

Rylee McCoy loaded the bases with a walk with one out, but a series of solid plays from the Bruins killed the rally.

Ayanna Shaw hit a weak chopper back to Tinsley on the mound who threw home for the second out. Katie Flannery tried to sneak one into left, but Garcia left her feet for the diving grab and the inning was over. 

Elon Butler took matters into her own hands to start the fifth. On the first pitch, she smacked a line-drive shot into the left field corner, the Ducks and Bruins were tied up for only a split second. Ma’ake drove a ball out for two out solo shots to put Oregon up 2-1.

Taking the lead poked the bear. Jolyna Lamar roared back and drove a 2-2 pitch into the right field trees to make the game 2-2.

Butler tied the single-season, program double record in the seventh. She led the frame off with her 18th on the season and scored after singles from Amari Harper and Cox’s.

Ma’ake kept punching back. She lifted an up and outside pitch to the opposite field for a three run shot to put the Ducks up 6-2 with no one out in the seventh. Pure elation on her face as she rounded first base.

McCoy got onto the home run train as well with a two run shot into left field.

A single from Soo-Jin Berry chased Sokolsky for Lyndsey Grein. Three ground outs later and Game 1 was Oregon’s.

Game 2 of the series is Saturday at 1:30pm. The game will be broadcast via Big Ten Network (video) and KWVA (radio).