The University of California, Los Angeles softball team tied its single-game program record by hitting eight home runs in a 16-5 run-rule victory against Rutgers on March 21. The game took place at the Rutgers Softball Complex in Piscataway, New Jersey, and was played before a record crowd of 2,107 fans during the first-ever night game at the venue.
This achievement is significant as it matches UCLA’s season-high for home runs set earlier this year and equals the program’s all-time mark previously reached against UC Riverside on Feb. 8. Before this season, the previous record stood at seven home runs in a game, last accomplished in 2013.
The Bruins’ offensive performance included home runs from Bri Alejandre, Kaniya Bragg, Megan Grant, Jolyna Lamar, Rylee Slimp, and Ramsey Suarez. Both Alejandre and Bragg hit two home runs each. UCLA hit four homers in the second inning alone—tied for the second-most in a single frame in school history—with Bragg, Alejandre, and Suarez going back-to-back-to-back. Slimp added a two-run homer later that inning.
UCLA extended its streak to 21 consecutive games with at least one home run and has now recorded multiple home runs in 14 straight games. The team also pushed its winning streak to 20 games—the second-longest active streak nationally—and secured its 18th run-rule win of the season. Senior pitcher Taylor Tinsley earned her tenth complete game of the year and improved her record to 15-2.
Rutgers responded with three runs in the bottom of the second inning but could not keep pace with UCLA’s offense. Megan Grant hit her conference-leading 22nd home run of the season during a seven-run fourth inning for UCLA.
Looking ahead, UCLA will aim for its third consecutive Big Ten Conference series win when it faces Rutgers again tomorrow. The remaining games of the series are scheduled to be televised on the Big Ten Network.
