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Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
UCLA falls to Tennessee in season-ending heartbreaker at Women's College World Series
OKLAHOMA CITY — UCLA's run at the Women's College World Series ended Sunday, two innings after the Bruins and slugger Megan Grant were able to extend it. Laura Mealer's bases-loaded, walk-off single to right field in the bottom of the ninth inning propelled Tennessee to a 5-4 win and a semifinal meeting with Texas at 9 a.m. PDT Monday. The Volunteers (47-16) were able to do what UCLA could not in the ninth: Deliver with the base loaded. The Bruins got singles from Savannah Pola and Jordan Woolery followed by an international walk to Grant. But Alexis Ramirez, who homered earlier in the game, grounded out to first to end the inning. Two innings earlier, Grant changed the complexion of the game and extended the Bruins' season with one swing. Or so the Bruins and their faithful inside Devon Park thought. Grant's two-out, two-run homer to right field off Tennessee ace Karlyn Pickens, a no-doubter that traveled 251 feet and appeared to pull the score even at 4-4, was in doubt for about 15 minutes. A review was initiated to determine if Grant touched home plate or was interfered with by a teammate. The on-field call was upheld and play resumed. Taylor Pannell hit a deep fly to left field to lead off the ninth, a ball that caromed off Rylee Slimp's glove and hit the white padding on the top of the wall but didn't leave the field. The play was reviewed and ruled a double. Mealer, who knocked in two runs in the first inning to give the Vols an early lead, delivered again, this time on a 2-2 pitch from Taylor Tinsley, who came on in relief of UCLA starter Kaitlyn Terry. Alexis Ramirez and Sofia Mujica hit solo home runs for the Bruins, who finished the season 55-13.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Why did Megan Grant's home run count in WCWS for UCLA? Play was not reviewable
Controversy has taken the spotlight as the Women's College World Series on June 1. Trailing 4-2 in the top of the seventh inning and down to its final out, UCLA's Megan Grant hit a two-run home run to even the game and keep the Bruins' season alive against Karlyn Pickens and Tennessee. Advertisement However, the celebration for UCLA quickly turned to worry. REQUIRED READING: Tennessee vs UCLA softball live updates: Women's College World Series score, highlights After the home run, Grant was mobbed by teammates at home plate to celebrate the home run. When Grant took her final step to home plate, she missed the plate and was touched by teammates. Eventually, catcher Alexis Ramirez assisted Grant to touch home plate. Lady Vols coach Karen Weekly quickly noticed the hoopla around home plate and challenged the run-scoring call. Following a lengthy review, the umpires ruled that while Grant did not initially touch home plate and was assisted to touch it afterwards, the run counted because "play is not reviewable according to Appendix G." Weekly quickly moved to file a protest and was heated following the review. However, the ABC broadcast following the inning break informed the audience that because the play was not reviewable, the Lady Vols could not protest. Advertisement But why did the run count? Here's what you need to know: Why did Karen Grant's run count? Replays quickly showed that Grant did not touch home plate right away and received assistance from her teammate Ramirez, who was the on-deck hitter, to touch the plate. If the umpires had seen Grant missing home plate and receiving assistance from Ramirez, they could have ruled her out. If Grant had been ruled out, it would have ended the game with a Lady Vols 4-3 win, as Grant's run would not have counted and the play happened with two outs in the inning. With this being an elimination game with the winner going to the WCWS semifinals and the loser heading home, the stakes on the call could not be bigger. Advertisement According to Appendix G, this is what is reviewable: 1. Regarding batted balls (any ball higher than the top of the foul pole when itleaves the field cannot have that aspect reviewed): a. Deciding if a batted ball called fair is fair or foul. b. Deciding if a batted ball called foul should be a ground-rule double,home run, or hit-by-pitch. c. Deciding if a batted ball is or is not a home run. 2. Regarding pitched balls at the plate: a. Deciding if a pitch ruled a dropped third strike was caught before the balltouched the ground. b. Deciding whether a live or dead ball should be changed to a foul ball.c. Deciding whether a foul ball should be changed to a foul tip only with nobase runners, or if it would result in a third out. d. Deciding whether a batter is entitled to an award of first base per HitBatter (by Pitch) - whether the ball hit the batter, whether the ball wasentirely in the batter's box, whether the batter made an attempt to getout of the way of the pitch when required, and/or whether the batterintentionally tried to get hit by the pitch (see Rule 11.13). 3. Spectator interference. 4. Obstruction and interference (including collisions). 5. Deciding if malicious/flagrant contact occurred. Umpires may initiate thisreview without requiring a coach's challenge at any point in the game toensure student-athlete safety. 6. Timing plays (deciding whether a third out is made before the lead baserunner touches home plate). 7. Force/Tag Play Calls: Plays involving all runners acquiring the base beforethe defensive player's attempt to put the runner out at any base. 8. Blocked or dead ball/Placement of Runners: Deciding whether a ball notruled blocked should be ruled blocked, and the proper placement of runners(per the rules/case book) after any blocked or dead ball call. 9. A catch or no catch in any situation. 10. Runners leaving the base prior to the touch on a fly ball (tagging up), runners missing a base and runners leaving early on a pitch. Note: The crew chief may not initiate a review of runners leaving early on a pitch. This review is only allowed by a coach's challenge. 11. Any of the listed reviewable items if the action on the field results in a deadball. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why did UCLA's Megan Grant's home run count in WCWS vs Tennessee?
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
UCLA softball beats Oregon in WCWS with walk-off home run
The ball landed just over the fence in center field and into the hands of a fan in attendance. "We just have an unwavering faith in each other and what we are doing," UCLA catcher Alexis Ramirez told NCAA sideline reporter Michella Chester after the game. THE GAME ALWAYS KNOWS!! JESSICA CLEMENTS WALK-OFF HOMER TO TAKE GAME ONE!! #GoBruins — UCLA Softball (@UCLASoftball) May 30, 2025 Ramirez played a key role in the game for the Bruins, going 2-for-3 with a two-run home run. The Bruins held a 2-1 lead going into the final inning before the Ducks tied the game after a controversial obstruction call at home plate. Oregon's Paige Sinicki slid toward home plate but was tagged by Ramirez, who appeared to have her foot on the plate. The Ducks challenged the call and were awarded the run after the call was reversed. Oregon ties it in the top of the 7th on ESPN2 ???? After review, UCLA was called for obstruction on the game-tying play. — espnW (@espnW) May 30, 2025 WCWS bracket 2025: Scores, schedule, matchups for NCAA softball tournament As a result of the victory, the Bruins will advance to the winner's bracket, while Oregon falls into the loser's bracket and will play Ole Miss Friday night to try to keep their championship hopes alive. The Bruins dramatic home run was the second walk-off homer on the opening day of the Women's College World Series. Earlier Thursday, Oklahoma's Ella Parker hit a three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to lead the Sooners to a 4-3 comeback victory over Tennessee. It was also UCLA's second walk-off homer in less than a week. UCLA was one out from elimination in Game 2 of the super regionals before Jordan Woolery hit a game-winning home run in the seventh inning to beat the South Carolina Gamecocks. The Bruins went on to win Game 3 of the super regional to advance to the WCWS. Who will UCLA softball play next? UCLA will play Texas Tech on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. Texas Tech beat Ole Miss 1-0 with Lauren Allred scoring a run in the fourth inning after scoring on an error.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
UCLA softball beats Oregon in walk-off, moves on in Women's College World Series
Jessica Clements and UCLA softball finished out the evening of Women's College World Series action with a walk-off home run to defeat Oregon 4-2 on Thursday. The Bruins and the Ducks were tied 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Bruins had the potential game-winning run on first base with two outs before Clements clinched the victory with her home run. Advertisement The ball landed just over the fence in center field and into the hands of a fan in attendance. "We just have an unwavering faith in each other and what we are doing," UCLA catcher Alexis Ramirez told NCAA sideline reporter Michella Chester after the game. Ramirez played a key role in the game for the Bruins, going 2-for-3 with a two-run home run. The Bruins held a 2-1 lead going into the final inning before the Ducks tied the game after a controversial obstruction call at home plate. Oregon's Paige Sinicki slid toward home plate but was tagged by Ramirez, who appeared to have her foot on the plate. The Ducks challenged the call and were awarded the run after the call was reversed. As a result of the victory, the Bruins will advance to the winner's bracket. Advertisement WCWS bracket 2025: Scores, schedule, matchups for NCAA softball tournament Who will UCLA softball play next? UCLA will play Texas Tech on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. Texas Tech beat Ole Miss 1-0 with Lauren Allred scoring a run in the fourth inning after scoring on an error. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UCLA softball defeats Oregon with walk-off, advances in WCWS
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
More Bruin magic: Jessica Clements' walk-off homer powers UCLA past Oregon at WCWS
Jessica Clements hit a walk-off, two-run home run in the seventh inning early Friday morning to carry ninth-seeded UCLA past No. 16 Oregon 4-2 at the Women's College World Series, after the Ducks tied the game in the top of the inning on a call at home plate that was overturned. Catcher Alexis Ramirez also hit a two-run homer in support of Bruins' starter Kaitlyn Terry, who pitched a four-hitter and gave up one earned run. UCLA (55-11) will play No. 12 seed Texas Tech on Saturday at 4 p.m. (PDT) for a spot in the semifinals. Oregon (53-9) will face unseeded Mississippi in Friday's elimination game. Oregon's Paige Sinicki doubled inside the third-base line to lead off the seventh, but the ruling was challenged by UCLA. The call was upheld, but the next hitter, Dezianna Patmon bunted Sinicki to third with one out. Emma Cox followed with a ground ball to third baseman Jordan Woolery, who tried to throw Sinicki out at home. The throw to Ramirez was on time and Sinicki was ruled out at home for the second out. Advertisement Oregon challenged the call, and it was overturned after a video review showed obstruction by Ramirez. Oregon led 1-0 in the fourth inning when Ramirez hit a two-out pitch from starter Lyndsey Grein over the left-field wall to give UCLA a 2-1 lead. It was the first runs the Bruins had scored against Grein in four games this season. The Ducks took two of three from UCLA in April. After Woolery singled and Megan Grant walked to open the sixth, Grein was pulled in favor of Elise Sokolsky, who retired the next two batters. Lightning and rain resulted in a 75-minute delay, and two brief power outages lasting less than a minute each, turned Devon Park dark in the first inning. Advertisement Oregon scored first against Terry in the third inning. Kaylynn Jones led with an infield single before a bunt by Katie Flannery. Jones took third on a ground out by Kai Luschar. Her sister, Kedre Luschar, then drove in Jones on a single to right field. The Bruins nearly answered in their half of the inning when Savannah Pola drove a pitch from Grein 220 feet to the base of the center-field wall that was hauled in by Kedre Luschar to end the inning. Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
