Tide fall to Bruins in Women’s College World Series

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) – Alabama softball fell in Thursday’s opening game of the Women’s College World Series, as a late home run pushed UCLA to a 4-1 win over the Crimson Tide.

With the loss, Alabama (38-19) will play Duke in an elimination game on Friday, May 31 at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.

UCLA (43-10) got on the board first in the bottom of the third on an RBI single before Kenleigh Cahalan tied it up two innings later with a bases-loaded hit to drive in pinch-runner Kinley Pate from third. Still tied in the bottom of the sixth, a three-run homer from Jordan Woolery with two outs pushed the Bruins ahead late and quickly put the Tide down to its final three outs. Alabama went down in order in the seventh, unable to spark a late rally.

“I said it the other day, but there’s no such thing as a bad day at the Women’s College World Series,” Crimson Tide Head Coach Patrick Murphy said. “That was a well-played game. UCLA had an opportunity to win it and they did it on one good swing. Both sides played well and it was just a really good softball game. Everybody knows that the three keys to winning are a great start in the circle, great defense and a key hit. They got the key hit, so kudos to them. We are looking forward to tomorrow. We’ve been in this situation before, with our backs against the wall.”

Bailey Dowling was 2-for-3 at the plate, her ninth multi-hit game of the season and her third of the NCAA Tournament to push her postseason line to 9-for-23 (.391). Cahalan’s RBI single extended her hitting streak to three games and gives her six RBIs this postseason while Marlie Giles reached base twice to push her reached-base streak to a team-leading 11 games. Kayla Beaver (18-10) took the loss in the circle in the complete-game effort.

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