UCLA softball downs Georgia to advance to Women’s College World Series

LOS ANGELES — Sharlize Palacio’s two home-run night propelled the UCLA softball team to a 6-1 victory over Georgia on Friday night as the Bruins secured a trip to the Women’s College World Series.

“When you can get after a team like Georgia, it builds great confidence for us,” coach Kelly Inouye-Perez told reporters after the game. “To the Bruins, I’m just gonna say I’m proud. We have trusted the process and flipped a corner.”

Associate head coach Lisa Fernandez was doused with Gatorade after the game in celebration of sixth-seeded UCLA’s 13-game win streak and another trip to Oklahoma City for the eight-team WCWS, which begins next Thursday. The Bruins won the best-of-three Super Regional series after previously shutting out the Bulldogs, 8-0, in six innings on Thursday night.

Maya Brady singled to start the top of the fourth inning and stole second base. Palacios then sent a ball soaring over the right field wall to give UCLA (42-10) a 4-1 lead. She added a solo home run in the top of the sixth.

The two big blasts were the senior’s 19th and 20th home runs of the season. Palacios went a perfect 3 for 3 with four RBIs.

The one-two punch of Brady and Palacios was significant from the first inning. Brady was walked and stole second base before Palacios stepped to the plate and drove her in with an RBI single for a 1-0 advantage.

The two have known each other since they were roughly 12 years old playing travel softball, which has made this postseason run even more special.

“It feels so nice to just be able to do this with her,” Palacios said. “I mean, we’ve really come a long way since travel ball. Maya, ‘Nelly’ (Janelle Meoño), Jadelyn (Allchin), it feels so rewarding to just be able to hug them and like, say we’re gonna finish it at OKC.”

Brady went 2 for 3 at the plate with an RBI and two stolen bases for the Bruins, who were wearing black T-shirts with “it’s already written” printed in white on the back of them prior to the game.

“It’s already been written out,” Palacios said. “We know how it’s going to end already, so you just have to trust the process and just sit back and enjoy it.”

Megan Grant singled and Jordan Woolery was hit by a pitch to load the bases in the opening inning, but Palacios was tagged out at home on the Bruins’ best chance to score.

Eleventh-seeded Georgia (43-19) evened the score when Linda Rae Davis hit an RBI single to center field to score Sydney Chambley, who had reached on a walk.

Sophomore pitcher Taylor Tinsley pitched a complete game, allowing four hits in seven innings while striking out six, including pinch hitter Sarah Gordon to end the game. Tinsley, who is from Georgia, got the start in the circle on Friday night after freshman lefty Kaitlyn Terry threw a complete game on Thursday.

“Super excited,” Tinsley said. “This is a special group of girls. I love every single Bruin, especially with ‘Shar’ behind the plate. Everybody behind me, everybody in the dugout. It’s just fun. It’s been so much fun to get here.”

UCLA scored the go-ahead run in the top of the second inning. Thessa Malau’ulu hit a single to deep center field and Meoño’s sacrifice bunt moved her to second. Meoño got to third on a wild pitch and Maya Brady laced a single up the middle to score Malau’ulu.

Malau’ulu added another run on a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth inning that scored Savannah Pola.

“What I love is when I see a complete team and everyone’s contributing,” Inouye-Perez said. “And I think a big part of that is they are trusting each other. They are passing the bat. It’s a we-versus-me mentality that’s when UCLA is at its best.”

UCLA is making its 25th straight NCAA Tournament appearance since 1999 and 39th overall. This will be the Bruins’ NCAA record 32nd trip to the WCWS.