Jane Sanders Stadium may have set a new attendance record in its fourth game, but UCLA’s bats likely didn’t let any of them leave content.
No. 4 ranked Oregon (26-5) dropped its first game at its new ballpark, 16-6, after the Bruins  finished with 12 hits. The 16 runs were the most Oregon has allowed this season.
“They played better defensively, offensively, and obviously they pitched in tough situations,” Coach Mike White said. “We just couldn’t stop them from scoring.”
No. 14 ranked UCLA (21-10-1) came out hot and never cooled off. By the bottom of the second, the Bruins had racked up nine runs and forced White to look for answers at the mound.
Down 4-0 in the bottom second, Geri Ann Glasco replaced starter Cheridan Hawkins (10-3). In 2.2 innings, Glasco gave up seven hits and four earned runs.
“Mind’s just wondering … not focused,” White said about Hawkins. “You can say a lot on the outside, but you got to think it on the inside. She’s got to be mentally tougher and she’s got to want it.”
UCLA’s starter Selina Ta’amilo (10-2) got the win in 3.2 innings. She gave up seven hits and three runs.
In a last ditch effort, Oregon did all it could to avoid losing the game on the mercy eight-run rule. Behind a three-run, two-hit fourth inning outing, Oregon headed into the bottom fifth needing four more runs to keep the game alive.
Infielder Hailey Decker then drilled a ball to deep center field that got caught in between the wall and field. Every UCLA outfielder threw up their hands wanting a ground-rule double. Instead, Decker continued to round the bases as she completed an inside-the-park home run that kept her team alive for a little bit longer.
“We’re getting used to it,” Glasco said about adjusting to Jane Saunders. “Hailey knew to keep running, so we took advantage of that. That’s a home field advantage for sure, knowing that.”
The game ultimately ended in the bottom fifth as Gwen Svekis got called out at second on an interference call.
“We didn’t play our game,” Glasco said. “We came out here, we were dull, we weren’t playing our type of softball. Messed up some of the little things and that tends to get you in the end.”
In total, the Bruins hit 44 percent. They were even more impressive at 80 percent when leading off.
The three-game home stand will continue for Oregon tomorrow night with a 7:30 p.m. scheduled first pitch.
“Once you get kicked, you see how you rebound,” White said. “That’s the challenge for us tomorrow.”
Follow Hayden Kim on Twitter @HayDayKim