Bruins Battle to the End at Women’s College World Series
UCLA shows championship heart despite heartbreaking extra-inning loss to Tennessee
By Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer
The UCLA Bruins showcased their trademark grit and resilience at the Women’s College World Series (WCWS), but ultimately came up just short. A walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth lifted Tennessee to a dramatic 5-4 win, ending UCLA’s championship bid in the tournament’s elimination bracket.
Laura Mealer’s bases-loaded single to right sealed the victory for the Volunteers (47-16), who advanced to the semifinals. The loss closed out a strong season for the Bruins, who finished 55-13 and appeared in their 150th WCWS game—a record of longevity and excellence.
Late-Inning Drama
UCLA rallied in the ninth inning with back-to-back singles from Savannah Pola and Jordan Woolery. Megan Grant was intentionally walked to load the bases, but Alexis Ramirez grounded out to first, leaving three runners stranded.
Ramirez and Sofia Mujica both homered early in the game, while Woolery finished with four hits in a standout performance.
Bruins head coach Kelly Inouye-Perez praised her squad’s fight.
“Just a great battle to the end,” she said. “I could not be more proud. Just the ability to fight, the ability to come back, down to the last pitch… that’s UCLA softball. When your back is against the wall, you rise to the occasion and create amazing memories.”
A Controversial Blast
Two innings earlier, Megan Grant gave the Bruins new life with a game-tying two-run homer in the seventh inning. Her 251-foot blast off Tennessee ace Karlyn Pickens tied the game at 4-4—at least temporarily.
The play was challenged by Tennessee head coach Karen Weekly, who argued Grant hadn’t properly touched home plate or had been assisted by a teammate. However, after a 15-minute delay, officials ruled the play non-reviewable under Appendix G. The protest was denied, and the game continued into extra innings.
“Going into that at-bat, I just wanted to stay aggressive,” said Grant. “After the swing, I did blackout—indeed.”
The home run was Grant’s 26th of the season, breaking the Big Ten single-season record. Together, she and Woolery hit 49 homers in 2024.
“Oh, my gosh. I’m really sad we didn’t get to 50,” Woolery joked. “But Meg is awesome. She makes it easy for me to be great.”
Clutch Moments in Oklahoma City
In their WCWS opener, Jessica Clements, a graduate transfer from Cal Poly, delivered another highlight. Her two-out, two-run homer after midnight lifted the Bruins to a walk-off win over Oregon in her first WCWS appearance.
“This has been my dream for as long as I can remember,” said Clements. “I was just trying to take it one pitch at a time… and I got the payoff. I feel on top of the world.”
Clements’ blast was the Bruins’ second walk-off of the postseason, following Woolery’s two-run homer that beat South Carolina in the Super Regionals. It was UCLA’s first walk-off at the WCWS since Rachel Garcia’s legendary 2019 shot against Washington.
Pitcher Kaitlyn Terry earned her 20th win and 11th complete game of the season in that outing, allowing just one earned run and striking out six.
Season Ends in Heartbreaker
UCLA’s final WCWS game came against Texas Tech, who defeated the Bruins 3-1 and advanced to the championship series against Texas. Freshman Kanyana Bragg provided UCLA’s only run with a solo homer—her 10th of the season.
Despite the loss, there’s little doubt about the program’s future.
With a deep, talented roster and a tradition of excellence, the Bruins are poised to remain a national powerhouse in 2025.
