NCAA Softball Tournament: No. 2 overall seed UCLA suffers massive upset, faces elimination game

UCLA entered the NCAA Softball Tournament as the nation’s No. 2 seed and winning 25 of its last 26 games. The Bruins took on Grand Canyon in the first round of the Los Angeles Regional, and things didn’t go as planned.

Just like that, they’re one game away from elimination.

UCLA took a 1-0 lead in the third inning, but a three-run home run from Madison Schafer made it a 3-1 GCU lead in the fourth inning. The Bruins answered back with one on a solo shot from Megan Grant in the fifth inning to make it a 3-2 game, but it wasn’t enough. The Antelopes came away with the win to advance in the Regional round and their first-ever win in the NCAA Tournament.

Now, UCLA will take on the loser of Liberty vs. San Diego State, which takes place Friday night. Grand Canyon, meanwhile, will get the winner with a chance to get to the Regional Final.

The Bruins entered the game with a 52-5 record and won 25 straight games before falling to Utah in the Pac-12 Championship. They then entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 2 overall seed, only behind No. 1 seed Oklahoma.

UCLA cleaned up with the Pac-12 postseason honors, bringing home the Player, Pitcher, Freshman and Coach of the Year awards. Maya Brady won the Player of the Year after hitting .458 with 18 home runs and driving in 59 RBI to lead the Bruins. Of course, those numbers — and the award — earned some high praise from her famous uncle, Tom.

Megan Faraimo brought home the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year award after dominating during the regular season. She amassed a 29-2 record in the circle while striking out 226 hitters with a 1.33 ERA. Faraimo started Friday’s game against GCU and struggled, allowing the three-run home run in addition to three walks and six strikeouts in 3.1 innings.

Jordan Woolery won the Freshman of the Year after she hit .399 with 10 home runs and 46 RBI, and Kelly Inouye-Perez won the Pac-12 Coach of the Year award for the third time in her career and the second time in three seasons.

Now, UCLA will have to battle its way back through the Regional if it wants to advance in the NCAA Tournament. Since it’s a double-elimination format until the Women’s College World Series starts, there’s still a chance the Bruins can make a run. It won’t be easy, though, as there will be at least three games ahead if they want to advance.