The beat goes on for the UCLA Bruins Softball team. In their final season as members of the Pac-12, they are heading back to the College World Series. In Kelly Inouye-Perez’s 17th season, this will be her 10th trip to Oklahoma City for the main event. This will be the 33rd in school history for the Bruins, more than any other program in College Softball.
The Bruins are seeking their 14th NCAA Title, but their first since the 2019 season. Inouye-Perez has two during her time, the 2010 and 2019 teams. A season ago, the Bruins lost out on reaching the College World Series, and lost in the Regional, despite their 52-7 record.
Catcher Sharlize Palacios has been on fire with the bat for the Bruins. He hit home runs in each of the Super Regional wins against Georgia. She now has 20 bombs on the season with 11 of them over her last 18 games. Palacios was thrilled following the game and mostly relieved:
“It feels so rewarding to just be able to hug them and say we’re going to finish it at OKC.”
Throwing to Palacios was Taylor Tinsley, who grew up, and played her High School softball in Georgia. She tossed a complete game. According to Thuc Nhi Nguyen of the Los Angeles Times, when the Bruins arrive in Oklahoma City, they will take on another SEC foe in 14th-seeded Alabama.