University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
52-8
UCF
41-19-1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCLA | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 13 | 1 |
| UCF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 0 |
Softball Wins 14-4, Advances Back to Women's College World Series
May 23, 2026 | Softball
LOS ANGELES โ The No. 8-seed UCLA softball team defeated UCF 14-4 on Saturday night to punch the Bruins' ticket into the Women's College World Series for the third straight season.
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With Saturday's win in Game 2 of the NCAA Los Angeles Super Regional, the Bruins have now advanced to the Women's College World Series for the 10th time in the last 11 tournaments. This will mark UCLA's NCAA-record 34th trip to the Women's College World Series.
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"I couldn't be more proud of this team and their ability to be able to play for each other and with each other," said Kelly Inouye-Perez, The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach. "But it's about big moments in postseason, and the ability to step up in those big moments when you have young Bruins."
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UCLA launched four home runs in Saturday night's win at Easton Stadium, including a pair from Aleena Garcia. Garcia finished Saturday's game 3-for-4 with seven RBI and three runs. She reached base in four of five plate appearances, drawing one walk. Her seven RBI in the win marked a UCLA postseason single-game record.
UNBELIEVABLE!!! ??
โ UCLA Softball (@UCLASoftball) May 24, 2026
2 homers and 7 RBIs tonight for Aleena Garcia!
??: ESPN
??: https://t.co/Q5hqjvNBo9#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/2wZNyZmiBm
The Bruins' four home runs pushed their season total to 200, as UCLA has become the first team in NCAA Division I softball history to have belted at least 200 home runs in any season.
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Leading 3-1 after four innings, UCLA (52-8) added three runs in the fifth inning, three in the sixth and five in the seventh.
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Taylor Tinsley (32-6) earned the win, recording a season-high 11 strikeouts and three walks over seven innings. Tinsley picked up the win in each of the Bruins' last four postseason wins โ two against South Carolina last weekend, and two versus UCF this week.
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Since securing a thrilling 12-11 win in comeback fashion over Cal Baptist in the opening game of the NCAA Los Angeles Regional on Friday, May 15, UCLA has outscored its opposition by a 45-8 tally in the past four postseason games.
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UCLA (52-8) overcame an early 1-0 deficit against UCF (41-19-1) on Saturday evening, scoring two runs in the third inning and adding one run in the fourth to jump ahead, 3-1. UCLA added three runs in the top of the fifth inning and UCF answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame, cutting the Bruins' cushion to 6-4.
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Garcia belted a three-run home run to right field in the top of the sixth, extending UCLA's advantage to 9-4.
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Ramirez was an offensive catalyst for UCLA in multiple innings, connecting on a solo home run before hitting a two-run double in the next inning. She concluded the game hitting 4-for-5 at the plate with three RBI.
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Trailing 1-0, UCLA loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the third inning. Megan Grant's sacrifice fly to left field sent home Soo-Jin Berry, and two at-bats later, Garcia singled into left field to send home Jolyna Lamar.
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Alexis Ramirez's solo home run with one out in the fourth inning pushed UCLA ahead of UCF, 3-1.
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The Bruins' three-run fifth inning two hits, two walks and one hit-by-pitch. With the bases loaded to open the inning, Bri Alejandre was hit by a pitch to score Rylee Pinedo. After a fielder's choice on a force out, Ramirez hit a two-run double down the left field line.
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UCF cut the Bruins' advantage to 6-4 with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
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The visiting Knights opened their half of the fifth with a pair of singles. With runners on the corners, UCF's Samantha Rey attempted to steal second base. An errant throw to second base allowed the third-base runner, Destiny Washington, to score. Rey moved to third base on the miscue. An ensuing foul out in left field allowed Rey to score from third.
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With the bases loaded and two outs, UCF's Shyanne Irvin Irvin drew a walk to send home Taylor Kittleman. Tinsley ended UCF's bases-loaded threat by inducing an inning-ending flyout to left field by Coco Jaimes.
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Garcia's three-run blast in the sixth inning pushed UCLA ahead of UCF 9-4. That marked her 20th home run of the season and UCLA's second of the game.
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The Bruins added five runs in the top of the seventh inning to push ahead, 14-4. UCLA had three run-scoring hits in the inning, including back-to-back home runs from Garcia (three-run shot) and Alejandre (solo home run).
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UCLA becomes the second Big Ten Conference team to advance to the Women's College World Series, joining Nebraska as two of the eight participants. The NCAA Super Regionals continue on Sunday to determine the complete eight-team WCWS field.
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The Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla., will begin on Thursday, May 28, at Devon Park. UCLA will take on Alabama in the Bruins' first game from Oklahoma City.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Tinsley, Taylor (32-6)
L: Tori Payne (4-1)
Batting:
2B: Woolery, Jordan 1 ; Ramirez, Alexis 1
HR: Garcia, Aleena 2 ; Alejandre, Bri 1 ; Ramirez, Alexis 1
RBI: Grant, Megan 1 ; Woolery, Jordan 1 ; Garcia, Aleena 7 ; Alejandre, Bri 2 ; Ramirez, Alexis 3
SF: Grant, Megan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Grant, Megan 2 ; Pinedo, Rylee 1 ; Woolery, Jordan 1 ; Mercado, Jaella Ann 1 ; Garcia, Aleena 3 ; Alejandre, Bri 2 ; Ramirez, Alexis 1 ; Berry, Soo-Jin 1 ; Lamar, Jolyna 2
HBP: Alejandre, Bri 2 ; Lamar, Jolyna 1
Batting:
2B: Izzy Mertes 1
HR: Aubrey Evans 1
RBI: Aubrey Evans 2 ; Shyanne Irvin 1
SF: Aubrey Evans 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Aubrey Evans 1 ; Taylor Kittleman 1 ; Destiny Washington 1 ; Samantha Rey 1
SB: Samantha Rey 1
