UCLA folds late during loss at Women’s College…
In the battle between elite pitching and mighty offense, the long ball ruled.
Alabama’s long ball.
Upstaging the most prolific offense in school softball historical past, the Crimson Tide blasted two late home runs to rally past UCLA for a 6-3 victory in their Women’s College World Series opener.
After rebounding from a shaky start with three consecutive scoreless innings, UCLA pitcher Taylor Tinsley couldn’t maintain the momentum Thursday against Alabama. Brett Rojo-Imagn Images
After rebounding from a shaky start with three consecutive scoreless innings Thursday at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Bruins ace Taylor Tinsley couldn’t maintain the momentum.
Alabama’s Alexis Pupillo crushed a two-run homer in the fifth inning to tie the rating at 3 before Brooke Wells blasted a three-run homer in the sixth.
UCLA coach Kelly Inouye-Perez shouldered the blame for the pitch calls that led to the homers.
“I tried to compete with a down ball that I don’t like that she gets beat with, not her best pitch,” Inouye-Perez said. “That’s why I say I’ll own it because we need to focus more on her than rather than focusing on the opponent, but in that, I’ll own both of those balls that were taken out of the ballpark – that’s on me.”
Alabama’s late energy surge more than offset back-to-back homers from UCLA’s Rylee Slimp and Megan Grant in the third inning that had given the Bruins a 3-1 lead.
Grant adopted Slimp’s two-run homer off Crimson Tide ace Jocelyn Briski on a two-out, full-count rise ball with a solo shot on a drop ball, momentarily erasing the Bruins’ one-run deficit.
Grant’s homer prolonged her NCAA single-season report to 41 and was the ninetieth of her 4 seasons, pulling her into a tie with Stacey Nuveman for the UCLA profession report.
It wasn’t enough for the Bruins (52-9) against a workforce that was about to unleash its own homer barrage.
What it means
UCLA faces a steep uphill climb after falling into the losers bracket, one loss away from elimination.
Turning level
With Tinsley (32-7) cruising into the fifth inning, Alabama leadoff hitter Jena Young drew a four-pitch stroll and got here home on Pupillo’s one-out homer.
The Crimson Tide (55-7) had tied the rating and have been on their approach.
MVP: Jocelyn Briski
Midway through the sport, issues didn’t look good for Briski, the SEC Pitcher of the Year who entered the sport with a minuscule 1.30 ERA.
Crimson Tide ace Jocelyn Briski allowed six hits and three runs to defeat UCLA on Thursday at the Women’s College World Series. Brett Rojo-Imagn Images
But after initially showing overmatched by UCLA’s sluggers, Briski (24-3) rebounded with 4 consecutive scoreless innings to end the sport. Briski allowed six hits and three runs. She struck out 9 and walked none.
“She just had really good stuff today,” Grant said, “and we tried to compete as much as we could against her.”
Did you see that?
UCLA’s Kaniya Bragg was compelled to depart the sport in the third inning after slipping on her swing when she delivered the first hit off Briski.
Bragg, who was already gritting it out after struggling a leg injury against Central Florida last weekend, limped to first base on her single down the correct discipline line. She was changed by pinch-runner Mia Phillips before reentering to hit in the seventh inning.
Inoyue-Perez said Bragg could be prepared to play in the Bruins’ next sport.
Up next
The Bruins will face the loser of the late sport between Arkansas and Nebraska at 6:30 p.m. PT Friday. The sport shall be broadcast by ESPN2.
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