Tennessee vs UCLA softball highlights: Girl Vols stroll off Bruins in WCWS elimination recreation – USA Right this moment

The 2025 Women’s College World Series discipline has one more semifinalist.
In an elimination game, No. 7 Tennessee softball lived to struggle one other day, surviving a controversial, game-tying dwelling run within the seventh inning and outlasting UCLA 5-4 in 9 innings Sunday at Devon Park in Oklahoma Metropolis.
Laura Mealer served because the hero for the Girl Vols, drilling a line-drive single to left discipline with the bases loaded and one out to carry dwelling teammate Taylor Pannell for the game-winning run.
With the win, Tennessee will advance to tackle No. 6 Texas within the semifinal at midday on June 2. It could have to defeat the Longhorns twice to advance to the best-of-three-game championship sequence, which is scheduled to begin on June 4.
UCLA, which was coming off a 3-1 loss to NiJaree Canady and Texas Tech within the winner’s bracket on Saturday, has been knocked out of the double-elimination match.
The Girl Vols led 4-2 heading into the seventh inning, however allowed a two-run dwelling run to Megan Grant. Grant, nonetheless, appeared to not initially contact dwelling plate earlier than being mobbed by her teammates. At a teammate’s prompting, she went again and touched the plate, however the play was challenged by Tennessee and finally upheld, with officers figuring out that whereas Grant did not contact the bottom, the play was not topic to overview based mostly on Appendix G of the NCAA Softball Rule Book. The choice despatched the sport into additional innings.
Tennessee beforehand averted elimination by defeating its SEC rival Florida by a run-rule 11-3 margin on Could 30. The Vols left little question by plating seven runs within the opening inning after which doing sufficient to complete the sport in 5 innings. The very best half for them, ace Karlyn Pickens, threw one inning after which earned a much-needed relaxation.
This is a take a look at the rating, updates and highlights from the WCWS elimination recreation between UCLA and Tennessee:
Laura Mealer performs the function of hero for Tennessee, drilling a game-winning RBI single to left discipline with the bases loaded and one out to elevate the Girl Vols previous UCLA 5-4 within the ninth inning.
Tennessee will tackle Texas Monday whereas UCLA’s season is over.
Tennessee walks Megan Grant deliberately after which Karlyn Pickens will get Alexis Ramirez to floor out to first on the primary pitch to finish the risk with the bases loaded. Tennessee has one other likelihood to stroll it off.
Savannah Pola with a two-out single that sneaks previous Tennessee shortstop Laura Mealer for a base hit. That brings up Bruins’ star hitter Jordan Woolery to the plate. Woolery singles by the fitting facet.
It is first and third, two outs for the ninth inning hero, Megan Grant.
Regardless of having an opportunity to stroll it off with runners on first and third, two outs, the Girl Vols can’t capitalize on the chance. Gabby Leach flies out to left discipline to finish the inning. We’re nonetheless tied 4-4 heading to the ninth inning.
After Mealer and Leach every floor out to Bragg at shortstop, she misses a certain out on a defensive miscue. Saviya Morgan singles to centerfield within the subsequent at-bat to advance Clarke to 3rd.
Pickens forces three straight groundouts to Slimp, Bragg and Mujica within the 6-7-8 spots of the UCLA lineup. Tennessee as soon as once more heads as much as bat with an opportunity to stroll off the Bruins. Mealer, Leach and Clarke are up within the 6-7-8 spots for the Girl Vols.
Tennessee’s McKenna Gibson rips a line straight to UCLA’s Jordan Woolery, who turns the double play and catches Pannell at second to finish the inning. Unimaginable play to increase the sport with momentum on Tennessee’s facet.
The Bruins need none of Nugent, and deliberately stroll her to place runners on first and second.
Tennessee’s Pannell almost walks off UCLA, however her would-be homer goes foul. She walks on a full depend and advances to second off an Ella Dodge sac bunt. Vols have one out and a runner in scoring place.
Alexis Ramirez grounds out to finish the inning. We’re headed to the underside of the seventh inning in a 4-4 tie. The Girl Vols can stroll it off with a run.
Tennessee coach Karen Weekly has filed for a protest following the unsuccessful problem. In line with the ABC broadcast, the Girl Vols can’t file a protest as a result of the play was not reviewable.
The house run stands and it’s a tie ball recreation. After a prolonged overview, it is dominated the decision is upheld.
“The runner missed dwelling plate and was assisted. Nonetheless, that play will not be reviewable in response to Appendage G,” in response to the umpires.
Tennessee is difficult if Megan Grant touched dwelling plate after hitting her dwelling run. It seems she missed the plate on the primary look however then went again and touched the plate. However in response to the principles knowledgeable, she might be referred to as out if she obtained help from her teammate to the touch dwelling.
Right down to its ultimate out, Megan Grant takes a primary pitch swing from Karlyn Pickens and knocks it out of the park to tie the sport 4-4 within the prime of the seventh inning.
Jordan Woolery collected a two-out single to arrange the heroics from Grant.
Regardless of getting the lead-off hitter on by way of a hit-by -pitch, the Girl Vols are usually not in a position so as to add any insurance coverage runs within the inning after Taylor Tinsley data three straight outs.
Karlyn Pickens and Tennessee will face the highest of the UCLA order within the prime of the seventh inning.
Kaitlyn Terry hits Alannah Leach on an 0-2 depend to guide off the underside of the sixth inning. Taylor Tinsley will come on to alleviate Terry within the circle. Terry will truly transfer to proper discipline as an alternative of being eliminated altogether.
Emma Clarke is up for the Girl Vols.
Tennessee efficiently challenges that Kaitlyn Terry was out of the runner’s lane, inflicting an error on a throw from pitcher Karlyn Pickens to the primary baseman and permitting Terry to succeed in. That leads to the third out of the inning.
UCLA would have had runners on first and third with two outs for the highest of the order if the problem had not been profitable. The Bruins are all the way down to their ultimate three outs.
Following a two-run dwelling run from Taylor Pannell within the backside of the fifth inning, Tennessee is forward of UCLA 4-2. The Girl Vols have to file six extra outs to get again to the WCWS semifinals vs. No. 7 Texas.
That was a superb bounce again by Kaitlyn Terry to get Laura Mealer to floor out to finish the inning with runners on second and third.
Taylor Pannell takes the primary pitch she sees within the backside of the fifth inning to left discipline for a two-run dwelling run to provide Tennessee a 4-2 lead. The ball flies 69.5 mph off the bat. Gabby Leach had a single up the center with one out previous the homer.
UCLA doubtlessly misses out on an enormous scoring alternative. Karlyn Pickens strikes out Alexis Ramirez with the bases loaded and two outs to flee the jam and strand three runners on base. Pickens walked Megan Grant with runners on second and third to load the bases.
It was a daring transfer contemplating Ramirez went deep off Pickens earlier within the recreation, but it surely did arrange a righty vs. righty scenario.
Following a quick begin for each offenses, each Kaitlyn Terry and Karlyn Pickens have settled in for a pitcher’s duel.
Terry has retired seven straight batters and 10 of the final 11 she has confronted since a two-RBI single by Laura Mealer within the first inning. Terry has six strikeouts and one stroll (an intentional stroll) in 4 innings of labor.
In the meantime, Pickens has 5 strikeouts and two walks in her 4 innings. Sofia Mujica’s dwelling run within the second inning was the final hit she allowed.
Kaitlyn Terry strikes out Sophia Nugent and McKenna Gibson back-to-back in a 1-2-3 backside of the third inning. Terry has retired 4 straight batters and 7 of the final eight hitters because the Laura Mealer two-RBI single within the first inning.
Alexis Ramirez, who hit a solo dwelling run within the second inning, leads off the fourth for the Bruins.
A pleasant bounce again inning for Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens after permitting two dwelling runs within the second inning. Pickens works round a one-out stroll to Jordan Woolery for a scoreless third inning.
Freshman DP Sofia Mujica takes one other excessive riseball and hits it over the middle discipline wall to tie the sport at 2-2 with a house run. That is the primary time Karlyn Pickens has allowed two dwelling runs in an inning this season.
Alexis Ramirez takes a riseball from Karlyn Pickens and drives it out to left discipline for a solo dwelling run to get one run again for the Bruins.
Tennessee’s offense strikes first off a two-RBI single by Laura Mealer with the bases loaded and two outs. UCLA opted to stroll McKenna Gibson with two runners in scoring place.
Taylor Pannell and Ella Dodge had back-to-back singles with one out and superior to scoring place on a flyball to middle discipline, by which outfielders Jessica Clements and Liesl Osteen almost collided.
Laura Mealer makes UCLA pay for strolling McKenna Gibson to load the bases. With two outs, she hits a two-RBI single to middle discipline.
UCLA’s Jessica Clements had a leadoff single, and Jordan Woolery added a one-out single, however the UCLA risk ends as a result of infield fly rule. Megan Grant popped out behind quick, however Laura Mealer struggled with the solar and dropped the ball. The umpire referred to as it an infield fly, which implies the batter is out and runners can advance at their very own threat.
Tennessee middle fielder Kinsey Fiedler threw out Clements attempting to advance to 3rd base for the third out.
Karlyn Pickens fires the primary pitch of the Tennessee-UCLA matchup for a strike and we’re underway right here at Devon Park in Oklahoma Metropolis.
UCLA will bat first, serving because the designated away workforce. Which means the Bruins will start the sport on the plate in opposition to Tennessee ace Karlyn Pickens.
First pitch is scheduled for two:15 p.m.
Right here’s a take a look at the Girl Vols’ beginning lineup for in the present day’s elimination recreation in opposition to UCLA:
Beginning pitcher: Karlyn Pickens
Right here’s a take a look at the Bruins’ beginning lineup for in the present day’s elimination recreation in opposition to Tennessee:
* Gained’t be within the batting lineup.
Tennessee ace Karlyn Pickens has been in prime type within the NCAA softball match, permitting 10 earned runs on 23 hits in 37 1/3 innings of labor to go together with 59 strikeouts and 13 walks.
Pickens lasted only one inning in opposition to Florida in her final outing, being relieved after the Girl Vols constructed up a 7-0 lead within the backside of the primary inning.
The Bruins earned a 4-3 win over the Vols in the newest assembly within the Mary Nutter Collegiate Traditional in Cathedral Metropolis, California on Feb. 22. Tennessee scored three first inning runs and held the lead into the fifth inning.
Karlyn Pickens restricted the Bruins’ offense till the fifth inning after they loaded the bases in opposition to her. Karen Weekly pulled Pickens for Sage Mardjetko, who allowed all 4 runs to attain, together with a three-run homer by Jordan Woolery to provide UCLA the lead.
UCLA leads the all-time sequence against Tennessee softball 10-4. The Bruins have received 4 in a row in opposition to the Girl Vols. They’ve cut up their two earlier matchups within the WCWS: The Girl Vols defeated the Bruins 4-3 in 2006, whereas UCLA earned a 3-1 win in 2005.
First pitch for UCLA and Tennessee’s softball recreation within the 2025 Ladies’s School World Sequence is about for 3 p.m. ET from Devon Park in Oklahoma Metropolis on June 1.
Sunday’s WCWS elimination recreation between UCLA and Tennessee will air on ESPN. Beth Mowins, Michele Smith and Jessica Mendoza may have the decision, whereas Holly Rowe serves because the sideline reporter.
Streaming choices for the sport embody the ESPN app, which requires a legitimate cable login to entry, and ESPN+, the latter of which serves as ESPN’s subscription streaming service.
Beneath is UCLA softball’s postseason schedule. For the Bruins’ full schedule, click here.
Los Angeles Regional
Columbia Tremendous Regional
WCWS
Beneath is Tennessee softball’s postseason schedule. For the Girl Vols’ full schedule, click here.
Knoxville Regional
Knoxville Tremendous Regional
WCWS
The Ladies’s School World Sequence started Could 29 and can run by both June 5 or June 6. The WCWS three-game championship sequence will start on June 4 and finish on June 5 or 6, relying on whether or not the sequence concludes in two or three video games.
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