The Big Ten Softball Tournament Title game ended with the conference’s No. 3 ranked UCLA losing 7-2 to the No.1 ranked Nebraska at the Maryland Softball Stadium on Saturday.
The Bruins slaughtered their opponents throughout the tournament with a 6-1 win in the quarterfinals and a 19-5 run-rule win in the semifinals. That changed in the title game, with a prudent defensive showing from the Cornhuskers led by senior right-handed pitcher Jordy Frahm.
Scoring in the second
Frahm and UCLA’s senior right-handed pitcher Taylor Tinsley both prevented any base runners in the first, but UCLA’s batters were able to get the better of Frahm in the second inning. The first run of the game came in the second with the Bruins redshirt freshman infielder Aleena Garcia stepping on home plate thanks to a throwing error.
Making history in the top of the third
UCLA’s senior utility Megan Grant blasted her 38th home run of the season in the top of the third. The homer also made Grant the newest record holder of the NCAA Division I single-season home run record. It was an impressive home run for an impressive season, as Grant etched her name into the history books.
Losing the lead in the bottom of the third
Tinsley struggled to contain the Cornhuskers offense in the bottom of the third as Nebraska’s batters were walked and hit their way to loading up the bases. Nebraska managed three runs off of a hit and a throwing error in the same play. The Bruins were down for the first time this game as they entered the fourth inning down 3-2.
Homer in the fourth
Nebraska wasn’t content with a 3-2 lead and blasted one of Tinsley’s pitches out of the park for a two-run homer to give the Cornhuskers a 5-2 advantage heading into the final stretch of innings.
No comeback
Both teams were held run-less in the fifth, but Nebraska added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Tinsley allowed a homer in the sixth and another runner came home later in the end of the game.
Tinsley allowed six hits and seven runs in her six innings of play, meanwhile Frahm allowed two-runs and five hits in her seven innings.
UCLA will await to see their NCAA Tournament selection, which will be announced on ESPN2 on Sunday, May 2 at 4 p.m. PT.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA softball falls short in Big Ten Tournament championship game
Reporting by Ryan Lorenz, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
