This post was updated May 9 at 2:02 p.m.

A 31-year-old record broken.

And yet, it still was not enough.

No. 3 seed UCLA softball (47-8, 20-4 Big Ten) lost to No. 1 seed Nebraska (46-6, 23-1) 7-2 in the Big Ten Championship on Saturday morning at Maryland Softball Stadium. The loss marked the third time the Bruins fell to the Cornhuskers this season, and the second time they have fallen in the Big Ten tournament championship game in just as many years.

But despite the loss, there was still some excitement for the Bruins. 

Senior utility Megan Grant hit her 38th home run this season in the top of the third, setting the NCAA single-season home run record and putting the Bruins up 2-0 against the Huskers. 

“It was honestly a surreal moment,” said senior infielder Jordan Woolery. “Megan does such a good job of being consistent through and through. To have her accomplish this feat is so awesome to see. I’m so lucky to be a part of history like that, especially in a big game like this. It’s cool to see her come through.”

Arizona alumnus Laura Espinoza previously held the record, hammering 37 four-baggers in 1995.

And the Bruins took the first lead, as Husker fielding errors allowed freshman infielder Bri Alejandre to advance to second while helping plate redshirt freshman infielder Aleena Garcia in the second to give the Bruins’ a 1-0 advantage. 

Yet even with Grant’s historic feat, UCLA could not hold on to its slim lead.

“I’m proud of what this team has done to create the standard that we should have, and (we) could have won that ball game,” said coach Kelly Inouye-Perez. “We’re not going to focus on what we didn’t do. I’m going to focus on the fact that this team has created a standard. With that being said, we didn’t get the outcome. It was an opportunity for us to take, and we didn’t take it.”

The squad’s troubles began in the third, when an intentional walk from senior pitcher Taylor Tinsley loaded the bases, right after she had hit the previous batter.

A collision between a Nebraska runner and sophomore infielder Kaniya Bragg put a small pause on the game, before a fielding error allowed Husker senior Hannah Camenzind to advance to third while bringing home three runners to give Nebraska a 3-2 advantage.

The fielding nightmares did not end there for the Bruins, though, as Husker infielder Samantha Bland swiped two bags off errors in the next inning. Husker Kacie Hoffman blasted a two-run home run after Bland advanced to third, leaving the Bruins in a three-run deficit.

In the sixth inning, a Nebraska home run added even more fuel to the fire.

The Huskers managed to get runners on second and third and with yet another Bruin fielding error, their seventh runner touched home plate.

The Bruin offense failed to rattle Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Jordy Frahm after Grant’s record-setting home run. Woolery hit a single in the top of the sixth, but she was unable to reach scoring position after Garcia flew out and the subsequent two hitters struck out.

“We’re young, and that’s not a bad thing, but it was our first big moment as a team,” Woolery said. “It’s a learning opportunity where we gained a lot of experience as a whole, and it’s a good time to learn it now versus later in the postseason. I’m grateful for the lessons, and we’re going to take it and move forward.”

The loss leaves the Bruins still searching for their first Big Ten tournament title, as the Westwood squad fell last season in the championship match to then-No. 8 seed Michigan.
But there is still likely more softball left to play this year for UCLA. 

The NCAA Division 1 Selection Show is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, when the Bruins will find out their postseason seeding.