University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Thursday, May 28
Oklahoma City, OK
4:00 PM (PT)
UCLA
52-9
3
vs
6
Alabama
55-7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCLA | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
| Alabama | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | X | 6 | 10 | 0 |
Rylee Slimp
Photo by: Jesus Ramirez
Softball Falls to No. 1 Alabama on Day 1 of WCWS
May 28, 2026 | Softball
OKLAHOMA CITY โ The eighth-seeded UCLA softball team was overcome by No. 1 seed Alabama in a 6-3 result on Day 1 of Women's College World Series action Thursday at Devon Park. The Crimson Tide scored five runs over the game's final three innings.
The Bruins (52-9) scored three third-inning runs to take a lead that would hold until Alabama (55-7) mounted its comeback, which was keyed by home runs from Alexis Pupillo and Brooke Wells. Rylee Slimp and Megan Grant hit back-to-back homers in the third for UCLA.
"They're a tough opponent," said Kelly Inouye-Perez, The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach. "You could see they hit two home runs, we hit two home runs, but the ability to come up with those timely hits with runners on obviously makes a difference. I like the way we competed. I could have called a better game for Taylor. She competed. She gave everything she had. But at the end of the day they out-scored us."
Jocelyn Briski (24-3) picked up the complete-game for the Crimson Tide, giving up three earned runs on six hits. She struck out nine without a walk. Taylor Tinsley (32-7) surrendered six earned runs on 10 hits across seven innings for the Bruins, striking out five and walking a pair.
Jena Young and Wells singled to open Alabama's half of the first inning. Tinsley answered with a strikeout, then induced a groundout that advanced the runners. With the count full, Marlie Giles lined a single into left field that brought Young home for the game's first run.
UCLA was held hitless until Kaniya Bragg singled to the opposite field with one out in the third. This started an offensive flurry for the Bruins, as Slimp and Grant followed with consecutive home runs. Grant's homer pushed her national single-season record total to 41 and tied Stacey Nuveman's UCLA career mark of 90. Young singled again to lead off the Crimson Tide's next round of at bats, but Tinsley stranded her at third with a strikeout.
Alabama left two more on base in the fourth inning, but broke through in the fifth. Young reached for the third time with a walk and, two batters later, Pupillo drove an offering over the right-field fence to even the score.
The Crimson Tide scored three more times in the sixth on a home run by Wells. The difference-making shot followed singles by Kristen White and Young, her third of the game. Bragg was hit by a pitch in the seventh, but she proved to be the only Bruin baserunner.
Next Up
UCLA returns to action Friday, when it faces off with the loser of Thursday's late contest between fourth-seeded Nebraska and No. 5 seed Arkansas. ESPN will provide live television coverage of the elimination game, with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. PT.
The Bruins (52-9) scored three third-inning runs to take a lead that would hold until Alabama (55-7) mounted its comeback, which was keyed by home runs from Alexis Pupillo and Brooke Wells. Rylee Slimp and Megan Grant hit back-to-back homers in the third for UCLA.
"They're a tough opponent," said Kelly Inouye-Perez, The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach. "You could see they hit two home runs, we hit two home runs, but the ability to come up with those timely hits with runners on obviously makes a difference. I like the way we competed. I could have called a better game for Taylor. She competed. She gave everything she had. But at the end of the day they out-scored us."
Jocelyn Briski (24-3) picked up the complete-game for the Crimson Tide, giving up three earned runs on six hits. She struck out nine without a walk. Taylor Tinsley (32-7) surrendered six earned runs on 10 hits across seven innings for the Bruins, striking out five and walking a pair.
Jena Young and Wells singled to open Alabama's half of the first inning. Tinsley answered with a strikeout, then induced a groundout that advanced the runners. With the count full, Marlie Giles lined a single into left field that brought Young home for the game's first run.
UCLA was held hitless until Kaniya Bragg singled to the opposite field with one out in the third. This started an offensive flurry for the Bruins, as Slimp and Grant followed with consecutive home runs. Grant's homer pushed her national single-season record total to 41 and tied Stacey Nuveman's UCLA career mark of 90. Young singled again to lead off the Crimson Tide's next round of at bats, but Tinsley stranded her at third with a strikeout.
Alabama left two more on base in the fourth inning, but broke through in the fifth. Young reached for the third time with a walk and, two batters later, Pupillo drove an offering over the right-field fence to even the score.
The Crimson Tide scored three more times in the sixth on a home run by Wells. The difference-making shot followed singles by Kristen White and Young, her third of the game. Bragg was hit by a pitch in the seventh, but she proved to be the only Bruin baserunner.
Next Up
UCLA returns to action Friday, when it faces off with the loser of Thursday's late contest between fourth-seeded Nebraska and No. 5 seed Arkansas. ESPN will provide live television coverage of the elimination game, with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. PT.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jocelyn Briski (24-3)
L: Tinsley, Taylor (32-7)
Batting:
HR: Slimp, Rylee 1 ; Grant, Megan 1
RBI: Slimp, Rylee 2 ; Grant, Megan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Slimp, Rylee 1 ; Grant, Megan 1 ; Phillips, Mia 1
HBP: Bragg, Kaniya 1
Batting:
HR: Brooke Wells 1 ; Alexis Pupillo 1
RBI: Brooke Wells 3 ; Alexis Pupillo 2 ; Marlie Giles 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jena Young 3 ; Brooke Wells 1 ; Alexis Pupillo 1 ; Kristen White 1
HBP: Salen Hawkins 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
UCLA Softball Press Conference - Coach Inouye-Perez, Megan Grant, Taylor Tinsley (May 28, 2026)
Thursday, May 28
UCLA Softball Press Conference - Coach Inouye-Perez, Megan Grant, Taylor Tinsley (May 27, 2026)
Wednesday, May 27
Kelly Inouye-Perez Interview on B1G Today Show (May 26, 2026)
Tuesday, May 26
Cinematic Recap - 2026 UCLA Softball Super Regionals
Sunday, May 24