This post was updated May 24 at 1:40 a.m.

As the second all-time home run hitter in UCLA history, redshirt senior shortstop Maya Brady has a reputation for big moments at the plate. 

In three straight at-bats, Brady made it home three times — including two solo home runs. She was the only player to make it home on both sides until the bottom of the fifth inning. 

No. 6 seed UCLA softball (41-10, 17-4 Pac-12) recorded a 8-0 run-rule walk-off win over No. 11 seed Georgia (43-18, 12-12 SEC) in the first game of the NCAA super regional. Through four games in the NCAA tournament, the Bruins have three run-rule victories. 

“They’re (Georgia) a great offense, super aggressive, and they’ve proved that all year,” Brady said. “For me, it’s just trying to put my team in the best position to get us a dub at the end of the day or give us at least a little room against a swinging team like that.”

Before Brady’s first home run of the night, a strikeout from freshman pitcher Kaitlyn Terry and a double play at first and second base put a quick end to the top of the first inning with no hits and no runs for the Bulldogs. 

With the back-to-back Pac-12 Player of the Year up to bat first, Brady hit the 70th home run of her career, launching one into right-center field. 

The second inning went scoreless on both sides. 

While graduate student outfielder Jadelyn Allchin flew through the air to make a diving catch in left field, the Bulldogs got three consecutive outs, holding the Bruins at a one-run lead.

“With our outfield, I already know any ball that’s in the air, they’re going to catch it,” Terry said. “Right when she laid out, I knew she was going to have it.”

The first Georgia batter of the third inning made it to first base but never found her way home, as UCLA got the next three batters out. 

With two outs on the board, a pop fly from Brady to center field looked to be heading toward the glove of Georgia outfielder Dallis Goodnight, but she dropped the ball — allowing Brady to make it to second base. 

An RBI single from Allchin brought Brady home. Followed by two walks, the bases were loaded for sophomore infielder Jordan Woolery, but pitcher Lilli Backes was able to get out of the jam with a strikeout. 

In the top of the fourth inning, another double play involving Brady and Woolery marked the first two outs for the Bruins. A follow-up strikeout from Terry ended it with no runs for the Bulldogs. 

An error from the Bulldog’s second baseman allowed the Bruins to get a runner on base. But three consecutive outs from Georgia left pinch runner junior outfielder Lauren Hatch stranded on third. 

The fifth inning nearly mirrored the third inning.

The Bulldogs got their first batter on base, but three consecutive outs prevented her from making it home. Brady made it all around the diamond for the third time, hitting her second home run of the night. 

The Bruins had two runners on base for Woolery, who had struck out with bases loaded in the third. But this time she launched the ball over the fence for a three-run homer. 

“You can see that they can pitch around certain players,” said coach Kelly Inouye-Perez. “Jordan has been a great hitter in that situation, just being able to know they’re pitching around Megan (sophomore utility Megan Grant), and she comes in.”

The Bulldogs responded with the first pitching change of the game. The Bruins still loaded the bases for Brady, but she struck out for the first time since the Pac-12 tournament.  

Two outs from Terry — an out at third and a strikeout — would leave two Bulldogs on base. 

In the bottom of the sixth inning, two UCLA batters reached base. 

Junior utility Savannah Pola stepped up to the plate and got her second walk-off hit of the tournament, bringing home the runs to run-rule the Bulldogs.

“Ninety-six days ago we played this team, and we are a different team,” Inouye-Perez said. “Game one, it’s always the biggest one. We’ve got to be able to appreciate tonight, go get some rest and come back because I guarantee there’ll be a dogfight tomorrow.”