Jordan Woolery homer leads UCLA Softball to Women’s College World Series opening win

Bruins take the first game thanks to Jordan Woolery heroics.

It continues to be a fun ride for the UCLA Bruins Women’s Softball team. Following a weather delay of more than 60 minutes, the UCLA Bruins and Alabama Crimson Tide got the College World Series party started. The Bruins beat Alabama 4-1 to keep the winning going and move on to Saturday.

Kaitlyn Terry, freshman lefthanded pitcher threw just 11 pitches in the first inning, including 9 strikes, as she had a relatively easy first inning, seeing just an infield single.

The Bruins, in the third inning, saw Janelle Meono get hit by a pitch, followed by a Maya Brady base hit to right field.  Jadelyn Allchin singled through the right side and scored Meono to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead. Sharlize Palacios hit into an inning-ending double play to end the threat.

Alabama got a one-out walk in the fourth inning, but Palacios took care of the runner stealing for the second out of the game. Maya Brady applied the tag for the out. Terry got a strikeout to end the top of the 4th.

The Crimson Tide threatened after a hit-by-pitch in the top half of the 6th, but Tinsley was able to slam the door shut, setting up an opportunity for the Bruins to take the lead in the bottom half. Maya Brady started the bottom of the 6th with an infield single. After bunting her to second, the Crimson Tide did not throw Sharlize Palacios a strike, setting up first and second, 1 out for Megan Grant.  Grant struck out looking. That set up the play of the game, as sophomore Jordan Woolery hit her 10th home run of the season to go up 4-1 after 6 innings.

Tinsley slammed the door in the 7th for the Bruins win. UCLA won the game with just four hits. Alabama came away with 6 hits.

The College Softball World Series will continue on Friday with more action. The four losers of Thursday’s games will look to stay alive. UCLA gets back to action on Saturday as they take on the winner of Duke and Oklahoma. The game is slated for 3 pm local time and will be aired on ABC.

The finals of the College Softball World Series is slated for Wednesday, June 5th, Thursday, June 6th, and Friday, June 7th.