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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.
RYLEE SLIMP 3-RUN WALK-OFF HOMER!!!#GoBruins|@ryleeslimp29pic.twitter.com/sJJyeRpTpq
“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.”
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
