COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Megan Grant broke the NCAA Division I single-season home run record with her 38th long ball of the season, but it was not enough as No. 3 seed UCLA softball fell to top-seeded Nebraska in the Big Ten Tournament championship game, 7-2 on Saturday.
Grant's record-breaking home run to dead center came in the third inning off Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Jordy Frahm to give UCLA a 2-0 lead. The previous NCAA Division I single-season home run record was set by Arizona's Laura Espinoza 31 years ago in 1995. Grant now has 85 career home runs, five shy of UCLA's all-time record of 90, held by Stacey Nuveman.
Nebraska (46-6) scored five unanswered runs on a pair of two-out, two-strike hits in the bottom of third and fourth innings to take the advantage. Hannah Camenzind singled with the bases loaded in the third inning to plate two, and a throwing error on the play cleared the bags to put the Huskers up 3-2. The next inning, on a two-strike count, Kacie Hoffman hit a two-run home run to the right field corner to increase the lead to three runs.
The Huskers added two more to their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning with a solo home run by Ava Kuszak and a two-out error, the Bruins' third of the game.
UCLA (47-8) had just one base-runner after the third, with Jordan Woolery getting stranded on the bases after leading off with a single to center field in the sixth inning.
The Bruins took an early lead in the second inning when Bri Alejandre's infield single drew an errant throw to first base, allowing Aleena Garcia to score all the way from first. Grant's third-inning home run made it 2-0 UCLA, but the Bruins were unable to score again after that. UCLA was held to just five hits in the contest.
Taylor Tinsley (28-6) pitched her 20th complete game of the losing effort. She allowed seven runs, including five earned, on six hits, two walks and a hit-by-pitch.
UCLA will await its selection in the NCAA Tournament, which will be announced on ESPN2 on Sunday, May 10 at 4 p.m. (PT).
Grant's record-breaking home run to dead center came in the third inning off Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Jordy Frahm to give UCLA a 2-0 lead. The previous NCAA Division I single-season home run record was set by Arizona's Laura Espinoza 31 years ago in 1995. Grant now has 85 career home runs, five shy of UCLA's all-time record of 90, held by Stacey Nuveman.
MEGAN GRANT IS THE NEW NCAA SINGLE-SEASON HOME RUN RECORD HOLDER!! ?????
— UCLA Softball (@UCLASoftball) May 9, 2026
??: @BigTenNetwork
??: https://t.co/b1aUhqTdF5#GoBruins | @ChefMeganCookin pic.twitter.com/CO2hTh751g
Nebraska (46-6) scored five unanswered runs on a pair of two-out, two-strike hits in the bottom of third and fourth innings to take the advantage. Hannah Camenzind singled with the bases loaded in the third inning to plate two, and a throwing error on the play cleared the bags to put the Huskers up 3-2. The next inning, on a two-strike count, Kacie Hoffman hit a two-run home run to the right field corner to increase the lead to three runs.
The Huskers added two more to their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning with a solo home run by Ava Kuszak and a two-out error, the Bruins' third of the game.
UCLA (47-8) had just one base-runner after the third, with Jordan Woolery getting stranded on the bases after leading off with a single to center field in the sixth inning.
The Bruins took an early lead in the second inning when Bri Alejandre's infield single drew an errant throw to first base, allowing Aleena Garcia to score all the way from first. Grant's third-inning home run made it 2-0 UCLA, but the Bruins were unable to score again after that. UCLA was held to just five hits in the contest.
Taylor Tinsley (28-6) pitched her 20th complete game of the losing effort. She allowed seven runs, including five earned, on six hits, two walks and a hit-by-pitch.
UCLA will await its selection in the NCAA Tournament, which will be announced on ESPN2 on Sunday, May 10 at 4 p.m. (PT).