Senior Jordan Woolery played a key role in UCLA’s 14-5 win over Wisconsin during the Bruins’ Big Ten softball opener at Easton Stadium on Friday night. Woolery went 4-for-4, hitting two home runs and driving in six runs. Her second homer, a three-run shot, ended the game in the fifth inning under run-rule conditions. This performance increased her NCAA-leading RBI total to 47 for the season.
UCLA improved its record to 19-3 overall and 1-0 in conference play. The team collected 14 hits, marking their eighth consecutive game with at least ten hits—a streak not seen since May 2017. Wisconsin finished with seven hits against UCLA pitchers Sydney Somerndike, Brynne Nally, and Taylor Tinsley.
Megan Grant also contributed significantly for UCLA. She reached base all four times she came to bat, including her fourth straight game with a home run. Grant now leads the NCAA with 17 home runs this season and has an on-base percentage of .739 along with a slugging percentage of 1.702.
Sophomore Rylee Slimp achieved her 100th career hit with a triple in the third inning and tied the game in the following inning with an RBI single.
Wisconsin started strong by scoring three runs in the first inning off Somerndike, helped by Emily Bojan’s double and subsequent RBIs from Danielle Lucy and Makenzie Foster. The Badgers added two more runs in the third before UCLA responded with three runs of their own.
In the fourth inning, UCLA took control by scoring seven runs. Freshman Jolyna Lamar began the rally as a pinch hitter with a single, followed by Slimp’s game-tying RBI single. After an intentional walk to Grant, Woolery hit a go-ahead three-run homer on her first pitch faced that inning. Soo-Jin Berry recorded her first double of the season for an RBI, while Aleena Garcia hit her fifth home run of the year.
Taylor Tinsley earned her tenth win of the season after pitching two scoreless innings in relief and striking out three batters.
UCLA will face Wisconsin again on Saturday evening at Easton Stadium as they look to secure another series victory. The game is scheduled for 6 p.m. Pacific Time and will be available to watch live on BigTenPlus.com (B1G+).
