The University of California, Los Angeles announced on April 10 that its No. 10 ranked softball team will play a three-game Big Ten Conference series against Illinois at Eichelberger Field in Urbana-Champaign from Friday, April 10 through Sunday, April 12. The first game is scheduled for Friday at 3:02 p.m. Pacific Time, with all games streamed live on BigTenPlus.com.
This series is significant as UCLA continues its strong performance this season, entering Week 10 ranked second nationally in home runs and slugging percentage while maintaining an average of nearly three home runs per game. The Bruins have already broken their single-season home run record with a total of 116 homers through just 39 games.
Senior Megan Grant has been a standout player for the Bruins, tying her own Big Ten single-season home run record with her 26th homer during UCLA’s recent win over Cal State Fullerton. She currently leads the NCAA in slugging percentage and OPS and ranks second nationally in home runs. Jordan Woolery has also contributed significantly, leading the NCAA with 79 RBIs and ranking third nationally in home runs.
Head coach Kelly Inouye-Perez reached two major milestones this season: she became UCLA softball’s all-time winningest head coach earlier this year with her 888th victory and later secured her 900th career win during a game against Rutgers on March 22. Inouye-Perez is now one of only seven coaches all-time to reach such numbers and has led the Bruins to nine seasons with more than fifty wins as well as eleven Women’s College World Series appearances.
The team’s success extends beyond individual achievements; six different players have hit ten grand slams collectively this season, while UCLA has recorded twenty run-rule wins so far after setting a program record last year. Seniors Grant, Tinsley, and Woolery were also named to the prestigious USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List for their outstanding performances.
Looking ahead, fans can watch every non-televised UCLA home game or road conference matchup via streaming service Big Ten Plus (B1G+). As the Bruins continue their campaign into their second year within the conference after finishing second last season, they remain focused on maintaining their high level of play throughout upcoming games.
