UCLA suffers disappointing loss to Tennessee, ending their season at Women's College World Series
Tennessee steamrolled the Women's College World Series semis, knocking UCLA out with a nail-biting, walk-off victory.
In the final showdown, the Bruins and Volunteers fought tooth and nail. After a tense back-and-forth battle, it was Tennessee's Laura Mealer who delivered the knockout punch in the bottom of the ninth. With bases juiced, she smacked a walk-off single to right field, securing a 5-4 win and a berth in the national semis.
UCLA's run at the tournament came to an abrupt end, thanks in part to a controversial controversy that unfolded in the seventh inning. UCLA slugger Megan Grant, a First Team All-American, tied the game with a two-run homer with two outs. However, the celebration took an unexpected turn when Grant tried to touch home plate and was later helped back over by teammate Alexis Ramirez.
Despite the technical infraction, a review was controversially upheld – not because the play was reviewed but because the initial infraction wasn’t caught live. This contentious decision allowed UCLA to tie the game and force extra innings.
As the drama unfolded, both teams were unable to score in the ensuing frames, setting the stage for the decisive, walk-off moment by Tennessee's Mealer.
Megan Grant exited the exciting contest with a 1-for-3 batting average, including the game-tying homer. Meanwhile, Tennessee's hero, Mealer, basked in the glow of her signature moment that sent the Volunteers to the national semis.
This electrifying showdown ended with Tennessee claiming victory, while UCLA's dreams of winning it all were shattered by a close call and a dose of hard-fought reality.
Tennessee's football team, on the contrary, are gearing up for a different kind of semi-final showdown, in the NCAA Football season. The Bruins of UCLA will face the Volunteers of Tennessee in Los Angeles, California. The fierce rivalry between these two powerhouse universities, known for their American-football prowess, promises a thrilling game. Among the many sports played at UCLA, football remains one of the university's cherished traditions. This upcoming match could determine California's representative in the national championship.
