Softball Falls to UCLA, 4-1, Thursday at the Women’s College World Series
5/30/2024 4:32:00 PM | Softball
The Crimson Tide will face either Oklahoma or Duke in an elimination game Friday at 6 p.m. CT
OKLAHOMA CITY – Alabama softball fell in Thursday's opening game of the Women's College World Series, as a late home run pushed UCLA to a 4-1 win over the Crimson Tide.
With the loss, Alabama (38-19) will play the loser of Thursday's Oklahoma vs. Duke game in an elimination game on Friday, May 31 at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.
UCLA (43-10) got on the board first in the bottom of the third on an RBI single before Kenleigh Cahalan tied it up two innings later with a bases-loaded hit to drive in pinch-runner Kinley Pate from third. Still tied in the bottom of the sixth, a three-run homer from Jordan Woolery with two outs pushed the Bruins ahead late and quickly put the Tide down to its final three outs. Alabama went down in order in the seventh, unable to spark a late rally.
Bailey Dowling was 2-for-3 at the plate, her ninth multi-hit game of the season and her third of the NCAA Tournament to push her postseason line to 9-for-23 (.391). Cahalan's RBI single extended her hitting streak to three games and gives her six RBIs this postseason while Marlie Giles reached base twice to push her reached-base streak to a team-leading 11 games. Kayla Beaver (18-10) took the loss in the circle in the complete-game effort.
From Head Coach Patrick Murphy
"I said it the other day, but there's no such thing as a bad day at the Women's College World Series. 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."
Highlights
- The game was just Alabama's third loss in 30 games in which the Crimson Tide has out-hit its opponent
- Alabama is now 4-3 when the score is tied through 5.0 innings
- The Tide turned its 22nd double play of the season, two shy of the second-place mark in the UA single-season record books
- Bailey Dowling was 2-for-3, tallying her ninth multi-hit game of the season and her third of the NCAA Tournament
- Kenleigh Cahalan's RBI single extended her hitting streak to three games and gave her six RBIs during the postseason, only trailing Riley Valentine's eight for the team lead
- Marlie Giles drew a walk and was hit by a pitch, pushing her reached-base streak to a team-leading 11 games
Scoring Summary
- B3 | Jadelyn Allchin pulled an RBI single through the right side (0-1, 1 Out)
- T5 | Kenleigh Cahalan tied it up with a bases-loaded RBI single (1-1, 2 Out)
- B6 | Jordan Woolery hit a three-run home run for UCLA (1-4, 2 Out)
Up Next: Women's College World Series (Oklahoma City)
- Friday, May 31 vs. Oklahoma/Duke Loser – 6 p.m. CT – ESPN
For the latest information on the team, follow @AlabamaSB on X/Twitter, BamaSB on Instagram and Alabama Softball on Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
