UCLA softball’s season ends with Women’s College World Series heartbreaker after late rally

With every pitch she threw, Kaitlyn Terry reminded the UCLA softball team how it had reached this spot.

Essentially down to one pitcher, needing a heroic effort from Taylor Tinsley in one postseason game after another.

It was only a year ago that Terry and Tinsley had been teammates, leading the Bruins to the Women’s College World Series as one of the nation’s top pitching duos.

When Terry transferred to Texas Tech after the season, that left only Tinsley.

Despite her best efforts, UCLA coach Kelly Inouye-Perez couldn’t find another pitcher she trusted as much as Tinsley.

So the Bruins rode their ace … and rode her … and rode her until the season’s end.

That conclusion came Sunday night, back on college softball’s biggest stage at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.

Pitching five strong innings out of the bullpen while also delivering the big hit in the ninth inning, Terry and her new team defeated Tinsley and UCLA, 8-7, overcoming some late pop from the Bruins’ historic offense in an elimination game that ended their season.

It was an emotional farewell, slugger Jordan Woolery sobbing on the field as she embraced teammate Megan Grant and hitting coach Lisa Fernandez.

“They now go down in history as two of the greatest ball players that have played Division I softball,” Inouye-Perez said of the duo who finished their careers with a combined 170 home runs, including 78 this season.

Once again Sunday, the long ball was at the heart of another Bruin rally.

Down by three runs entering the bottom of the seventh, Ramsey Suarez hit a leadoff homer off Terry. That prompted the Red Raiders to go back to right-hander Nijaree Canady, who continually traded places with Terry in the pitching circle.

Canady gave up a single to Jazmine Leyva before retiring the next two batters. That brought up Woolery, who had already blasted a two-run homer off Canady in the first inning.

After Canady threw a first-pitch strike, she challenged Woolery again.

Their reactions to what happened next said it all.

Woolery flipped her bat in delight as the ball soared into the air for another two-run homer while Canaday pounded the dirt with her glove in disgust.

It was the blast heard half a country away, the UCLA baseball fans who lingered at Jackie Robinson Stadium for a game involving other teams in the NCAA Tournament Regional roaring in delight.

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“You have to tip your hat to the greatness of Megan Grant and Jordan Woolery,” Texas Tech coach Gerry Glasco said. “Those are not just average softball players, All-Americans, those are great, great, great softball players. When you have to compete with them, you have to know they’re going to beat you a certain amount of time.”

But the final acknowledgement would have to be given to the Red Raiders.

After a leadoff single in the ninth, Terry belted a run-scoring double to left-center field off Tinsley, who went on to strike out two batters with the bases loaded. Tinsley was on the verge of escaping the jam when a fielding error by UCLA shortstop Aleena Garcia allowed another run to score.

Did the Bruins (53-10) have any magic left?

Some.

Rylee Slimp delivered a one-out single off Terry in the bottom of the ninth before Grant walked on five pitches and Woolery stroked a run-scoring single up the middle.

“Before our last at-bat,” Woolery said, “I told Meg, ‘We’re made for this.’ ”

The Red Raiders (59-8) went back to Canady, who got Garcia to fly out to left field and Bri Alejandre to take a called third strike for the final out.

Tinsley (33-8) finished her final college game pitching all nine innings and throwing 181 pitches, long after she had earned the eternal respect of teammates.

“It’s just so special seeing her,” Woolery said, tearing up. “She’s just awesome. No one understands what she’s given to this team and this program. I just wish that everyone was able to see Tins how we see Tins because she’s just perfect. Like, I don’t know. We’re roommates, she’s one of my closest friends in the world. I would honestly die for Tins.”

Her workload was nothing new, the right-hander having started every game and while pitching 49 1/3 of her team’s 52 innings in the NCAA Tournament.

“I have a pitcher who put this program on her back for the last three years,” Inouye-Perez said. “I’m very grateful that she did.”

And now the Bruins will have to hand the ball to someone else,