UCLA Softball Takes Game 1 Off A Grand Slam Homerun

Jan 12, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; A UCLA Bruins logo at the entrance to Pauley Pavilion before the UCLA Bruins defeated Arizona State Sun Devils 87-72. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Fielding-USA TODAY Sports

The UCLA Softball team continues to roll as they beat the Kentucky Wildcats, 6-4 in Game 1 of the Super Regionals. A wild game that had both teams going back and forth at each other, ended with grand slam for UCLA to capture the win.

The Bruins scored two runs in the second inning when Delaney Spaulding hit a double that was dropped in the outfield, allowing two Bruins to come home. The game got interesting in the next inning when Griffin Joiner hit a grand slam homerun for Kentucky, completely shifting momentum toward the Wildcats. The raucous Easton Stadium was shocked, but just like their ace pitcher, Ally Carda, they would soon be heard again.

After giving up the four-run smash, Carda turned her game up a notch and clamped down on Kentucky the rest of the game. With the defense and pitching endng strong for UCLA, all they needed to do was score a few runs, which would not seem to be a problem for the Bruins. In the bottom of the 6th inning, Spaulding hit her own grand slam homerun to put the Bruins back up by two scores, 6-4.

It all came down to Carda and the last three outs of the game. As expected, she shut them all down. The Bruins won Game 1 of the Super Regional, with Game 2 Sunday at noon. If needed, the Bruins and Wildcats will play a third game at 3 p.m. Tickets are still on sale and the game will be televised on ESPNU, so no matter what, you should be watching this game and supporting your UCLA Softball team. You will not be disappointed.

Go Bruins!

Mike W.R.

Twitter: @TheBigDisco