UCLA softball will face Alabama in 1st round of Women’s College World Series
No. 6 seed UCLA softball huddles together. UCLA will take on No. 14 seed Alabama in the first round of the Women’s College World Series. (Brianna Carlson/Daily Bruin)
Softball
No. 14 seed Alabama
Thursday, 9 a.m.
Oklahoma City
ESPN
By Samantha Garcia
May 29, 2024 4:27 p.m.
This post was updated May 29 at 10:56 p.m.
Aspirations vary wildly in the kaleidoscope of childhood dreams.
While some children envision themselves as an astronaut or the next Hollywood star, young softball players dream of playing in the Women’s College World Series – a stage that garnered an average of 1.6 million viewers in 2023.
Heading back to Oklahoma City, No. 6 seed UCLA softball (42-10, 17-4 Pac-12) will face No. 14 seed Alabama (38-18, 10-14 SEC) on Thursday in the first round of the WCWS.
The double-elimination format of the WCWS means a Thursday loss would place UCLA in a loser’s bracket matchup against the loser of No. 10 seed Duke and No. 2 seed Oklahoma. Conversely, a win against the Crimson Tide would mean the Bruins play Saturday against the winner.
“It’s going to be a dogfight from here on out,” said sophomore pitcher Taylor Tinsley. “Everybody obviously wants to be the last one standing. It’s going to be gritty.”
This appearance marks the Bruins’ 32nd Women’s College World Series, through which they have advanced to the final 20 times and won 12 – all of which are more than any other program in history.
Alabama upset No. 3 seed Tennessee in its super regional to clinch a spot in the WCWS. The Crimson Tide dropped the first game, but a walk-off hit from outfielder Kristen White in the 14th inning of game two saved them from elimination.
UCLA swept Georgia in their super regional to extend their winning streak to 13, with three of their last five being run-rule victories.
“Our ability to bring things together at the right time is what this program does,” said coach Kelly Inouye-Perez. “If I could bottle this feeling up, I’d be a billionaire.”
Freshman Kaitlyn Terry and Tinsley will make their WCWS debuts Thursday. The duo have split time in the circle this season – each featuring in more than 130 innings.
“Me and KT (Terry), we’re just going at it together. We’re super excited for what the rest has in store,” Tinsley said. “I know I’m always going to ride for her and she’s always going to ride for me. So we just rely on each other in that aspect.”
On the hitting side, UCLA sits 14th in the country in batting average with .323 and 22nd in home runs per game with 1.21.
An early elimination last season put the childhood dreams of a WCWS on hold for the 2023 freshmen class. UCLA’s postseason success this year crystallized these.
“The coolest part is going to be seeing this sophomore class experience OKC for the first time,” said redshirt senior shortstop Maya Brady. “I need to see a ‘Chef bomb’ (sophomore utility Megan Grant), I need to see Jordan (sophomore infielder Jordan Woolery). It’s just something I need to see before I die.”