Alabama softball lost in Thursday's opening game of the Women's College World Series, with a late home run securing a 4-1 victory for UCLA over the Crimson Tide.
UCLA scored first in the bottom of the third with an RBI single. Alabama answered two innings later with a hit from Kenleigh Cahalan, driving in pinch-runner Kinley Pate from third with a bases-loaded hit. Being aggressive, Patrick Murphy waved Kali Heivilin home, but she was thrown out at the plate to end the threat.
In the bottom of the sixth, with the game still tied, Jordan Woolery's two-out, three-run homer gave the Bruins a commanding lead, leaving Alabama with just three outs to respond. The Crimson Tide went down in order in the seventh, failing to ignite a late comeback.
Kayla Beaver took the loss in the circle despite pitching a great game. The one mistake to Woolery was the difference in the game. Beaver pitched a complete game, giving up four runs on four hits while striking out four batters.
"I said it the other day, but there's no such thing as a bad day at the Women's College World Series,” said Alabama coach Patrick Murphy. “That was a well-played game. UCLA had an opportunity to win it and they did it on one good swing. Both sides played well and it was just a really good softball game. Everybody knows that the three keys to winning are a great start in the circle, great defense and a key hit. They got the key hit, so kudos to them. We are looking forward to tomorrow. We've been in this situation before, with our backs against the wall."
Alabama falls to the loser’s bracket and will play the loser of Thursday's Oklahoma vs. Duke game in an elimination game on Friday at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.
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