UCLA softball did its thing — its home run thing.
But it didn’t involve the Bruin Bombers.
In fact, sluggers Megan Grant and Jordan Woolery were waiting to bat when leadoff hitter Rylee Slimp hit a three-run, walk-off homer in the opening game of their NCAA Tournament Super Regiona in Los Angelesl.
Slimp’s blast completed UCLA’s 9-1, five-inning run-rule victory over Central Florida on Friday night at Easton Stadium, the abrupt ending catching even Slimp by surprise.
“I had no idea, actually,” Slimp said of the possibility of ending the game at that point. “I didn’t even know we were in run-rule territory, if I’m being honest.”
Slimp finally figured it out after reaching home plate and watching her teammates sprint across the field in celebration. Kaniya Bragg also hit a towering three-run homer and Bri Alejandre a solo shot for the Bruins (51-8), who now need just one more victory in the best-of-three series to advance to the Women’s College World Series.
The three homers extended UCLA’s NCAA single-season record to 196. It was the 29th run-rule victory for UCLA this season, breaking the program record of 28 it had set last season.
“When the offense does what it does,” Bruins coach Kelly Inouye-Perez said, “we will take that every single day.”
UCLA ace Taylor Tinsley (31-6) held the Knights (41-18-1) to just three hits, including Sierra Humpreys’ solo homer in the fifth inning.
What it means
The shortened game was especially meaningful for Tinsley, the workhorse pitcher who will likely start every game in this series.
“It’s huge for her to save bullets,” Inouye-Perez said, “because tomorrow’s a big day.”
Turning point
With UCLA leading by only one run, the Bruins added two more in the fourth inning on Soo-Jin Berry’s RBI groundout and a run-scoring double inside the left-field line by pinch-hitter Ramsey Suarez.
That was more than enough breathing room for Tinsley.
“Just having the run support, it obviously makes me feel a little bit looser on the mound,” Tinsley said, “and I think even for the offense in general, we just start having fun with it. It’s fun to watch everybody succeed and just having them pass the bat, and then when I go out there, just knowing that they’re always going to have my back no matter what.”
MVP: Rylee Slimp
Slimp has hit 16 homers, an incredible number for a leadoff hitter.
Of course, having Grant and Woolery behind her vastly improves the quality of pitches she gets to hit.
“I think that actually takes a lot of pressure off, just knowing I have eight incredible bats behind me,” Slimp said. “So really, at the end of the day, all my job is to touch first base. That’s all I’m really there to do, and I know that anyone behind me is going to get the job done.
“Basically, if I get on, I feel like I’m an automatic run because I have that much trust in the people behind me. So, I feel like that takes a lot of weight off my shoulders.”
Up next
These teams will play again at 7 p.m. Pacific Saturday. The game will be broadcast by ESPN.
