The bases were loaded with nobody out andnowhere to put UCLA’s Megan Grantwhen she stepped to the plate in the fifth inning.
Searching for an answer against the most feared slugger in college softball, South Carolina made a pitching change.
Grant rocketed the third pitch over the wall in left-center field Sunday evening for a grand slam and a nicely rounded number for the game’s home run queen.
Grant’s 40th homer of the season extended her NCAA record and provided the Bruins plenty of breathing room on the way to a 15-1, six-inning run-rule victory over the Gamecocks in the deciding game of the NCAA Tournament Regional at Easton Stadium.
The triumph propelled UCLA (50-8) to a Super Regional next week against Central Florida back at the Bruins’ home stadium. The best-of-three series starts at 6 p.m. PDT on Friday.
Grant’s teammates poured out of the dugout to mob her in celebration of her second homer of the regional. The blast gave UCLA a 6-0 lead before the Gamecocks (32-28) finally broke through with a run in the bottom of the inning against ace Taylor Tinsley.
Stepping to the plate with the bases loaded in the sixth inning, Grant ripped a two-run single up the middle, giving her six RBIs on the day.Jordan Woolery followed with a two-run doubledown the left field line as part of the Bruins’ nine-run inning that featured two homers and five extra-base hits.
In her third start in as many games in the regional, Tinsley (30-6) produced her most dominant performance. She gave up two hits and one run while pitching her second complete game in as many days, with two strikeouts and two walks.
UCLA’s athletic dominance of South Carolina continued on another big stage.
Just last month, the UCLA women’s basketball team dismantled the Gamecocks by 28 points in the national title game — after a previous Bruins victory over them in December 2024 ended South Carolina’s 43-game winning streak.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
