Tennessee vs UCLA softball highlights: Girl Vols stroll off Bruins in WCWS elimination sport – USA As we speak

The 2025 Women’s College World Series area has yet one more semifinalist.
In an elimination game, No. 7 Tennessee softball lived to battle one other day, surviving a controversial, game-tying house 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 area with the bases loaded and one out to carry house 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 might have to defeat the Longhorns twice to advance to the best-of-three-game championship collection, 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 house run to Megan Grant. Grant, nevertheless, appeared to not initially contact house 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 in the end upheld, with officers figuring out that whereas Grant did not contact the bottom, the play was not topic to assessment based mostly on Appendix G of the NCAA Softball Rule Book. The choice despatched the sport into further innings.
Tennessee beforehand prevented elimination by defeating its SEC rival Florida by a run-rule 11-3 margin on Might 30. The Vols left little doubt by plating seven runs within the opening inning after which doing sufficient to complete the sport in 5 innings. One of the best half for them, ace Karlyn Pickens, threw one inning after which earned a much-needed relaxation.
Here is a take a look at the rating, updates and highlights from the WCWS elimination sport between UCLA and Tennessee:
Laura Mealer performs the function of hero for Tennessee, drilling a game-winning RBI single to left area with the bases loaded and one out to carry 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 via the correct aspect.
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 not capitalize on the chance. Gabby Leach flies out to left area 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 positive 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 aspect.
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 rely 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 keeping with the ABC broadcast, the Girl Vols can not file a protest as a result of the play was not reviewable.
The house run stands and it’s a tie ball sport. After a prolonged assessment, it is dominated the decision is upheld.
“The runner missed house plate and was assisted. Nonetheless, that play shouldn’t be reviewable in line with Appendage G,” in line with the umpires.
Tennessee is difficult if Megan Grant touched house plate after hitting her house run. It seems she missed the plate on the primary look however then went again and touched the plate. However in line with the foundations skilled, she might be known as out if she obtained help from her teammate to the touch house.
All the way 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 through a hit-by -pitch, the Girl Vols should not in a position so as to add any insurance coverage runs within the inning after Taylor Tinsley information 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 rely to steer off the underside of the sixth inning. Taylor Tinsley will come on to alleviate Terry within the circle. Terry will really transfer to proper area as a substitute 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 ends in 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 right down to their ultimate three outs.
Following a two-run house run from Taylor Pannell within the backside of the fifth inning, Tennessee is forward of UCLA 4-2. The Girl Vols have to report six extra outs to get again to the WCWS semifinals vs. No. 7 Texas.
That was a great 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 area for a two-run house run to offer 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 sport, nevertheless it did arrange a righty vs. righty state of affairs.
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 house 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 for the reason that Laura Mealer two-RBI single within the first inning.
Alexis Ramirez, who hit a solo house 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 house 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 area wall to tie the sport at 2-2 with a house run. That is the primary time Karlyn Pickens has allowed two house runs in an inning this season.
Alexis Ramirez takes a riseball from Karlyn Pickens and drives it out to left area for a solo house 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 heart area, 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 heart area.
UCLA’s Jessica Clements had a leadoff single, and Jordan Woolery added a one-out single, however the UCLA risk ends because of the infield fly rule. Megan Grant popped out behind quick, however Laura Mealer struggled with the solar and dropped the ball. The umpire known as it an infield fly, which implies the batter is out and runners can advance at their very own danger.
Tennessee heart 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 staff. Meaning the Bruins will start the sport on the plate towards 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 immediately’s elimination sport towards UCLA:
Beginning pitcher: Karlyn Pickens
Right here’s a take a look at the Bruins’ beginning lineup for immediately’s elimination sport towards Tennessee:
* Received’t be within the batting lineup.
Tennessee ace Karlyn Pickens has been in prime kind within the NCAA softball match, permitting 10 earned runs on 23 hits in 37 1/3 innings of labor to associate with 59 strikeouts and 13 walks.
Pickens lasted only one inning towards 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 latest assembly within the Mary Nutter Collegiate Basic 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 once they loaded the bases towards 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 offer UCLA the lead.
UCLA leads the all-time collection against Tennessee softball 10-4. The Bruins have received 4 in a row towards the Girl Vols. They’ve break 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 sport within the 2025 Ladies’s Faculty World Collection is ready for 3 p.m. ET from Devon Park in Oklahoma Metropolis on June 1.
Sunday’s WCWS elimination sport between UCLA and Tennessee will air on ESPN. Beth Mowins, Michele Smith and Jessica Mendoza can have the decision, whereas Holly Rowe serves because the sideline reporter.
Streaming choices for the sport embrace the ESPN app, which requires a sound cable login to entry, and ESPN+, the latter of which serves as ESPN’s subscription streaming service.
Under is UCLA softball’s postseason schedule. For the Bruins’ full schedule, click here.
Los Angeles Regional
Columbia Tremendous Regional
WCWS
Under is Tennessee softball’s postseason schedule. For the Girl Vols’ full schedule, click here.
Knoxville Regional
Knoxville Tremendous Regional
WCWS
The Ladies’s Faculty World Collection started Might 29 and can run via both June 5 or June 6. The WCWS three-game championship collection will start on June 4 and finish on June 5 or 6, relying on whether or not the collection concludes in two or three video games.
Our staff of savvy editors independently handpicks all suggestions. For those who make a purchase order via our hyperlinks, we could earn a fee. Costs had been correct on the time of publication however could change.

source