Ucf Softball Faces UCLA With Two Wins to Reach World Series

UCF softball is two wins away from its first Women’s College World Series, and the path runs through UCLA in the Los Angeles Super Regional. Game 1 is set for Friday, May 22 at 9 p.m. EDT on ESPNU, with Game 2 scheduled for Saturday, May 23 at 10 p.m. EDT on.

UCF and UCLA

The Knights enter the super regional needing two victories to get to Oklahoma City for the first time in the program’s 25-season history. UCLA, seeded No. 2 in its bracket quadrant, is chasing its 34th trip to the Women’s College World Series and brings Kelly Inouye-Perez’s veteran program into the matchup.

That makes this a direct collision of first-time pursuit and long-term expectation. UCF has never made the Women’s College World Series, while UCLA has treated the event as familiar territory for years.

Easton Stadium Edge

UCLA’s home park adds another layer. Easton Stadium measures 190 feet down the left-field line, 190 feet down the right-field line and 210 feet to center, and it has been described as a hitter's park.

The Bruins’ lineup has the numbers to match the setting. Jordan Woolery, who earned Softball America’s National Player of the Year honor, has 34 home runs and ranks fifth in the nation in hits. Megan Grant has 40 home runs, a new single-season NCAA record, and leads the nation in on-base percentage.

Tinsley and Nally

UCLA has also leaned heavily on Taylor Tinsley in the circle. She has thrown 203 of the Bruins’ 349.1 innings this season and ranks 33rd in the nation in strikeouts, while UCLA has used three other pitchers as well.

Brynne Nally gives the Bruins another arm in the mix, and Luke Joseph said she has that 'it' factor. Kelly Inouye-Perez also has Lisa Fernandez, a USA Softball Hall of Famer, on her staff, adding more postseason experience to a team already built for this stage.

For UCF, the assignment is simple and severe: beat a No. 2 UCLA team twice in Los Angeles and the program reaches the Women’s College World Series for the first time. One win keeps the Knights alive; two send them into their biggest finish yet.