In a thrilling finish on Sunday, Tennessee earned a significant victory over UCLA with a 5-4 win in extra innings, propelling the Volunteers into the Women’s College World Series semifinals and knocking the Bruins out of contention. The decisive moment arrived when Laura Mealer delivered a crucial RBI single in the ninth inning, sealing Tennessee’s triumph.
The game nearly ended in controversy during the top of the seventh inning. UCLA’s Megan Grant launched a two-run home run that seemed to level the score at 4-4. However, an immediate review was initiated to determine if Grant appropriately touched home plate. Tennessee’s coach, Karen Weekly, claimed that Grant’s teammates had physically assisted her back to home plate, contravening the rules. Had the umpires sided with this argument, Grant’s home run would have been negated, resulting in a Tennessee victory without further play.
Weekly expressed confidence in what her team observed. “Everyone in the dugout saw that she missed the plate, and teammate assistance should have voided the home run.” Eventually, after a lengthy 15-minute review process, officials upheld the home run decision. The NCAA later clarified that aiding a runner is not open to review, and a first-time offense would only lead to a simple warning, which in this case had no impact on the score.
Megan Grant recalled the moment as a blur, admitting, “It was just a blackout… I kept my focus, stayed aggressive, and after the swing, I just relied on faith.”
Despite the setback of conceding the homer, Tennessee’s Karlyn Pickens demonstrated resilience, completing the game and securing the victory. Acknowledged as a first-team National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American, Pickens allowed four earned runs across 11 hits while striking out seven batters. “During that delay, we prepared for any outcome and maintained readiness to continue playing,” stated Weekly. “Our focus was on being prepared for the worst while hoping for the best.”
During the suspenseful review period, Tennessee’s players exhibited joy and positivity, even engaging in light-hearted dancing. Pickens shared their sentiment, emphasizing that the team was determined to move on regardless of the decision. “Whatever the call, we were set to focus on the next pitch.”
Tennessee’s offense was bolstered by Taylor Pannell’s two-run homer in the fifth inning, which had initially given the Volunteers a 4-2 lead. Pannell contributed substantially with three hits throughout the game. UCLA showcased their talents as well, with Alexis Ramirez and Sofia Mujica both accomplishing solo home runs, while Jordan Woolery recorded four hits. The Bruins, ending their season at 55-13, fell short of becoming the first Big Ten semifinalists since Michigan in 2015.
Tennessee, now with a robust record of 47-16, advances to face Texas in the semifinals on Monday. With the path to the championship series requiring two wins over the Longhorns, Tennessee faces a challenging road. Conversely, Texas must secure only one victory to reach the championship series for the third time in four consecutive years.
Despite her exertion of 148 pitches in the game, Weekly assured that Pickens is set to perform against Texas, emphasizing her athletic versatility and potential to excel in multiple sports. “Tonight focuses on recovery and hydration. Karlyn is exceptional in multiple sports and has the tenacity to lead her team to another fight.”