LOS ANGELES - No. 8 national seed UCLA downed South Carolina 7-2 to move on to the final day of play at the NCAA Los Angeles Regional. The Gamecocks will play either Cal State Fullerton or California Baptist in an elimination game later tonight at 7pm PT.
UCLA (49-8) scored six runs in the bottom of the second inning to take control of the game. The Bruins hit a pair of two-run home runs in the inning to increase their NCAA-record home run total to 189, including Megan Grant's NCAA-record 39th home run of the year and 88th of her career (two away from UCLA's school record). Senior Taylor Tinsley came back from a heavy load the night before to pitch her 21st complete game of the season. She totaled six strikeouts and shut out the Gamecocks over the final four innings.
"In postseason, one of the most important things you can do is have a short memory, and I couldn't be more proud of how Taylor [Tinsley] came out and played her game" said The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach Kelly Inouye-Perez. "Every day is a new day, but the ability to have that rebound, that bounce-back, is something that is really impressive."
South Carolina (31-27) opened the scoring in top of the second inning when Jamie Mackay launched a solo home run off the scoreboard. But the Bruins quickly answered in the bottom of the inning on a two-run home run to center field by freshman Bri Alejandre to take the lead, 2-1. Soo-Jin Berry increased UCLA's lead to 4-1 with a two-run double to score Kaniya Bragg and Alexis Ramirez, and Grant brought Berry home with a bomb to center field.
Quincee Lilio hit the Gamecocks' second consecutive lead off home run to get one back for South Carolina in the third and threatened in the top of the fourth after a double and single put runners on second and third with one out. But the Bruins got out of the inning after Jordan Woolery caught Tate Davis rounding third after a fly-out to center.
Aleena Garcia's second home run of the Regional in the bottom of the fifth increased UCLA's lead to 7-2.
The Bruins will rematch with the Gamecocks in the Regional final on Sunday, May 17 at 4:30 p.m. PT, with an if-necessary game to follow at 7:30 p.m.
UCLA (49-8) scored six runs in the bottom of the second inning to take control of the game. The Bruins hit a pair of two-run home runs in the inning to increase their NCAA-record home run total to 189, including Megan Grant's NCAA-record 39th home run of the year and 88th of her career (two away from UCLA's school record). Senior Taylor Tinsley came back from a heavy load the night before to pitch her 21st complete game of the season. She totaled six strikeouts and shut out the Gamecocks over the final four innings.
"In postseason, one of the most important things you can do is have a short memory, and I couldn't be more proud of how Taylor [Tinsley] came out and played her game" said The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach Kelly Inouye-Perez. "Every day is a new day, but the ability to have that rebound, that bounce-back, is something that is really impressive."
South Carolina (31-27) opened the scoring in top of the second inning when Jamie Mackay launched a solo home run off the scoreboard. But the Bruins quickly answered in the bottom of the inning on a two-run home run to center field by freshman Bri Alejandre to take the lead, 2-1. Soo-Jin Berry increased UCLA's lead to 4-1 with a two-run double to score Kaniya Bragg and Alexis Ramirez, and Grant brought Berry home with a bomb to center field.
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— UCLA Softball (@UCLASoftball) May 16, 2026
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Quincee Lilio hit the Gamecocks' second consecutive lead off home run to get one back for South Carolina in the third and threatened in the top of the fourth after a double and single put runners on second and third with one out. But the Bruins got out of the inning after Jordan Woolery caught Tate Davis rounding third after a fly-out to center.
HOLY DEFENSE!
— UCLA Softball (@UCLASoftball) May 16, 2026
HOW ABOUT THE PICK AND THROW BY J-WOO!
??: ESPN2
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Aleena Garcia's second home run of the Regional in the bottom of the fifth increased UCLA's lead to 7-2.
The Bruins will rematch with the Gamecocks in the Regional final on Sunday, May 17 at 4:30 p.m. PT, with an if-necessary game to follow at 7:30 p.m.