The 2026 Women’s College World Series began with a crushing loss for the UCLA Bruins. UCLA saw a 3-1 lead turn into a 6-3 loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide, moving the Bruins into a win-or-go-home matchup on Friday.
Alabama jumped out early to begin the WCWS, scoring in the first inning thanks to a two-out single by catcher Marlie Giles. UCLA would wait until the third inning to score but the Bruins did it in style, with back-to-back home runs by Rylee Slimp and Megan Grant.
Slimp scored Mia Phillips with a two-run shot to give the Bruins the lead before Grant extended the single-season Division I home run record to 41 with a moonshot out beyond right field. That would end the scoring for UCLA though, with Alabama keeping the Bruins off the scoreboard over the game’s last four innings.
With the way UCLA pitcher Taylor Tinsley was cruising, the Bruins’ lack of scoring didn’t seem like it was going to be costly. Things changed in the fifth inning with Alexis Pupillo evening the game at 3-3 with a two-run shot.
Troubles continued for Tinsley in the sixth inning. Alabama got action on the bases with two straight singles before first baseman Brooke Wells clobbered a go-ahead three-run homer to retake the lead for the Crimson Tide.
UCLA went quietly in the seventh inning. Kaniya Bragg left early in the game with an injury but returned for her at bat in the seventh, getting hit by a pitch to reach base. The other three Bruin batters were retired, putting UCLA’s backs against the wall quickly into the WCWS.
UCLA will face the loser of Arkansas-Nebraska with first pitch set for 7:30pm Pacific Time. The Bruins haven’t played Arkansas this season but UCLA is 1-4 against Nebraska this season, including a loss in the Big Ten Conference earlier this month.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA falls 6-3 to Alabama to begin Women’s College World Series
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
