Hoosiers Fall Short in Westwood

Friday, April 3

Los Angeles, Calif.

10:00 PM

Indiana University

27-8, 7-3

#9 UCLA

31-5, 11-2

Indiana

UCLA

4/4/2026 2:08:00 AM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

LOS ANGELES, Calif. ––– Despite leading through five innings, Indiana lost in a 5-4 battle at No. 9 UCLA on Friday night (April 3) in Easton Stadium.

A 3-run UCLA bomb in the sixth inning proved to be the difference and propelled the Bruins' comeback.

With the loss, Indiana is now 27-8 on the season and 7-3 in the Big Ten.

GAME 1: No. 9 UCLA 5, INDIANA 4
*UCLA leads the series, 1-0

KEY MOMENTS
• Indiana's defense set the tone early, as it ended the first inning with a 6-4-3 double play to keep the score at 0-0.
• After a scoreless first two innings, Aly VanBrandt broke the tie with a double to left field to score Jada Ellison and Cassidy Kettleman and put IU up 2-0.
• Megan Grant and the Bruins countered in the bottom of the inning as she doubled to help bring home one run and make it a 2-1 game.
• Alex Cooper doubled to left center and scored Alli Gavin to give Indiana an insurance run in the top of the fifth.
• After a bases loaded walk to score one for UCLA and cut the lead down to 3-2, Brooke Mannon struck out Bri Alejandre and pitched to a groundout to escape the jam and keep the lead.
• Rylee Slimp hit a 3-run home run over the right center wall to put UCLA up 5-3 in the bottom of the sixth.
• Indiana was able to score one run on the game's final play, before the double play concluded the action.

NOTABLES
• Tonight's game was the first regular season contest as conference opponents between both softball programs.
• Indiana used four pitchers tonight and each allowed no more than two runs.
• Taylor Hess threw three-straight strikeouts spanning from the third to fourth innings.
• Six different Hoosiers registered a hit.

UP NEXT
Indiana will be back in Easton Stadium tomorrow night for a 9 p.m. game (ET) against the Bruins.