Jordan Woolery powers UCLA in Women’s College World Series opener

OKLAHOMA CITY — Jordan Woolery dropped the bat and immediately raised her hands. Even though she watched the ball soaring toward the left-field fence, she knew it was gone.

Knew it was big, too.

Woolery’s three-run sixth-inning homer was the difference as sixth-seeded UCLA defeated 14th-seeded Alabama 4-1 in its opener Thursday at the Women’s College World Series.

The Bruins (43-10) will play the winner of the Oklahoma-Duke game at noon PT Saturday at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.

Until Woolery’s late-inning blast, the WCWS opener was largely a pitcher’s duel, UCLA’s Kaitlyn Terry and Taylor Tinsley battling Alabama’s Kayla Beaver.

UCLA got on the board in the third inning.

After Janell Meono was hit by a pitch, Maya Brady laced a single into right field. Jadelyn Allchin followed with her own single to right, and Meono was sent home. She scored easily when Alabama right fielder Lauren Johnson bobbled the ball.

Alabama (38-19) got the run back in the fifth inning. After Terry gave up a lead-off single, she was replaced by Tinsley, who almost immediately found herself in trouble.

A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second, and a single followed by a walk loaded the bases with only one out.

Tinsley got a popout but then allowed a sharp single to right field. One runner scored and a second was thrown out at home to end the inning.

UCLA answered back in the sixth. With a runner on second and one out, Alabama opted to intentionally walk Sharlize Palacios. Beaver followed with a strikeout, which brought Woolery to the plate.

The sophomore blasted a 1-1 pitch into the left-field bleachers to send the Bruins to the winner’s bracket.

More to come on this story.