UCLA Softball Overcomes CBU's Big Inning for 12-11 Walk-Off Win
The Bruins will face South Carolina this afternoon with a spot in the regional final on the line.
After a dramatic comeback win last night, the Bruins will play the South Carolina Gamecocks this afternoon at 2 pm PT. At press time, the game is scheduled to be streamed on ESPN+ with no TV broadcast available, but it is possible that the game could air on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU. So, you will have to grab your remote and check for yourself, especially since last night’s game was slated for ESPN2 and ended up airing on ESPN.
Last Time Out
Through the first four innings of last night’s game against California Baptist, the UCLA softball team looked like a team which would end the game early with a run-rule win.
Jordan Wooley’s 34th homer of the year gave the Bruins a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
While the Lancers got a run back in the second, UCLA tacked on five more runs in the third. After Megan Grant walked for the second time and Woolery singled, shortstop Aleena Garcia hit a three-run homer to make it 5-1. With just one out, Kaniya Bragg reached on an error and Soo-Jin Berry hit a two-run homer as the Bruins took a 7-1 lead.
But in the top of the fifth, CBU sent 14 batters to the dish and scored 10 runs in the inning to take an 11-7 lead.
In the bottom half of the fifth, the Bruins had the bases loaded with two outs when Bruin head coach Kelly Inouye-Perez got in her team’s way, like she has done so frequently through the years, by overmanaging. She pinch-hit for centerfielder Jolyna Lamar. Nevermind that Lamar is hitting .336 on the season with 13 homers or that she already had a hit and 2 RBIs in this game.
Instead, she sent Ramsey Suarez, who trails Lamar in most offensive categories, to the plate. She struck out swinging, leaving the Bruins just six outs to score four runs to tie the game.
In the bottom of the sixth, Rylee Slimp walked to lead off the inning. After Grant fouled out, Woolery doubled to give the Bruins runners on second and third. Jaela Ann Mercado pinch-ran for Woolery as Garcia came to bat. She walked to load the bases. Bri Alejandre hit into a fielder’s choice with Garcia out at second, but it was enough to score Slimp from third and move Mercado to third. Bragg hit a slow roller towards first that was just far enough from the bag for her to run it out and for Mercado to score, but then Alejandre was caught in a rundown trying to get back to second base after overrunning the bag. The result was out number three and a potential game-tying rally was shut down after just two runs and the Lancers now led 11-9, leaving UCLA with just three outs to score two more runs to tie it.
Sofia Mujica led off the seventh with a strike out. Berry singled to bring the tying run to the plate for the third time in two innings, and it was Lamar’s spot in the order. This time, Inoye-Perez allowed Lamar to hit. As if to emphasize Inouye-Perez’s bad decision in the fifth, Lamar sent the ball over the right field fence to tie the game. Slimp grounded to short but beat it out for an infield hit, giving UCLA the winning run on first with the NCAA Home Run Queen coming up.
But Grant walked on six pitches to move Slimp to second, and Woolery followed with four straight balls to load the bases. That brought up Garcia with still just one out. She hit a fly ball deep enough to right to allow Slimp to tag and score from third for the winning run on a walk-off sacrifice fly.
South Carolina Gamecocks
The Bruins are no strangers to the other SC. UCLA beat the Gamecocks, 5-4, on February 21st in Cathedral City as part of the Mary Nutter Classic.
Yesterday, South Carolina trailed Cal State Fullerton, 4-3, heading into the bottom of the sixth. With one out, the Gamecocks tied the game on an error by center fielder Kate Verhoef. With runners on second and third and two outs, Quincee Lilio hit a three-run homer to right, which proved to be the game-winner.
Los Angeles Regional
Game #3
Teams: #7 seed South Carolina Gamecocks (31-26) vs. #2 seed UCLA Bruins (48-8)
When: 2:00 pm PT, Saturday, May 16, 2026
Where: Easton Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
TV: None
Live Stream: WatchESPN.com and the ESPN app
Live Stats: UCLA StatBroadcast
Game Notes
UCLA
Game #4
Teams: Cal State Fullerton Titans (43-18) vs. California Baptist Lancers (43-18)
When: 4:30 pm PT, Saturday, May 16, 2026
Where: Easton Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
TV: TBD
Live Stream: WatchESPN.com and the ESPN app
Live Stats: UCLA StatBroadcast
Game #5
Teams: Game #3 Loser vs. Game #4 Winner
When: 7:00 pm PT, Saturday, May 16, 2026
Where: Easton Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
TV: TBD
Live Stream: WatchESPN.com and the ESPN app
Live Stats: UCLA StatBroadcast
Tournament Bracket
Regional Central
Go Bruins!!!
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Bruins win and head to tomorrow's regional final.
I was at the Mary Nutter game! It seemed hopeless!