Megan Faraimo, UCLA rally past Duke in NCAA Super Regional opener

LOS ANGELES — UCLA pitcher Megan Faraimo stood with two gloves on her head during a postgame interview, plus two armfuls of bats with even more coming from her teammates.

“These Bruins are silly gals,” Faraimo said, laughing. “It was fun, but a little bit heavy.”

The moment of levity was forced by Faraimo. After the Bruins failed to score a run until the fifth inning, the ace came in and delivered the game-winning hit in UCLA’s 3-2 victory over Duke in the opener of their best-of-three NCAA Super Regional on Friday night at Easton Stadium.

She was substituted in for Kelly Godin at the bottom of the lineup in the sixth inning as No. 12 seed Duke held a 2-1 lead. On the second pitch, her two-run single gave the fifth-seeded Bruins (47-8) their first lead of the night.

“That situation, I prepare for all the time,” Faraimo said. “In that moment all my team was telling me to just think oppo, think opposite field because obviously, that was the situation.”

On top of it all, Faraimo (22-4) pitched a complete game, allowing two runs on four hits with 10 strikeouts – her 10th double-digit strikeout game of the season. She retired the last 14 Blue Devils.

The teams return to Easton Stadium on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. (ESPN2) for the second game of the Super Regional. Game 3, if necessary, would be Sunday at a time to be determined.

Duke (44-10), which has reached a Super Regional for the first time, scored two runs in each of the first two innings. Rachel Crabtree, in the third at-bat of the game, knocked a double to center field to drive in leadoff hitter Jameson Kavel. Faraimo came through with two strikeouts afterward to get out of the inning.

Duke freshman Ana Gold homered to center field in the second inning to extend the lead. Again, Faraimo followed with a strikeout, and the Bruins tagged Duke’s Kamryn Jackson at second for the final out.

The UCLA defense worked tirelessly, with shortstop Bri Perez (2 for 4, double) running into left field to catch a pop out, then lending a hand on a double play in the top of the third inning.

“Bri’s defense is always just stellar,” first baseman Kinsley Washington said. “She’s making incredible plays all the time; it’s nothing new to us. It’s definitely her putting in the hard work all season.”

The offense began to produce in the bottom of the frame when Perez doubled off the wall. However, Washington (4 for 4, one run) was tagged out running home on the play. Faraimo stifled the Duke hitters in order in the top of the fourth and fifth innings, then the Bruins finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth.

Washington singled, then advanced to second on a passed ball. Delanie Wisz drove her in with a double to right center – her first hit of the night.