Craig MeyerUSA TODAY NETWORK
Just one game into the 2024 Women’s College World Series, the Alabama softball team is firmly on its heels.
A three-run home run from Jordan Woolery in the bottom of the sixth inning pushed No. 6 national seed UCLA past the No. 14 seed Crimson Tide 4-1 Thursday at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
More: Watch the Women's College World Series live on Fubo (free trial)
Thunderstorms in the Oklahoma City area delayed the start of the contest, with the first pitch coming at 12:36 p.m. CT, 96 minutes later than its originally scheduled time.
Until that fateful swing of the bat from Woolery, Alabama starter Kayla Beaver largely had her way with the Bruins, giving up one earned run while striking out four and walking one in her first 5 2/3 innings.
Kenleigh Cahalan drove in the Tide’s lone run of the day with a single to right field in the top of the fifth inning that tied the game at one run apiece.
REQUIRED READING: Why an inflatable palm tree, a rubber chicken, and more will join Alabama softball at WCWS
Bailey Dowling went 2 for 3 for Alabama, which managed six hits off UCLA pitchers Kaitlyn Terry and Taylor Tinsley.
With the loss, Alabama will face off against the loser of a Thursday matchup between No. 2 Oklahoma and No. 10 Duke. That game will take place Friday night, with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. CT. A loss to either the Sooners or Blue Devils would knock the Tide out of the double-elimination tournament.
Here’s a look at live updates, highlights and more from Alabama’s WCWS-opening setback:
REQUIRED READING: Alabama softball adds home run hitter from transfer portal as it heads to WCWS
Alabama softball vs UCLA updates, highlights
All times Central
Final: UCLA 4, Alabama 1
Top of the seventh inning: UCLA 4, Alabama 1
2:35 p.m.: Kristen White pops out to center field and that'll do it. Alabama falls to UCLA 4-1 in its first game of the WCWS.
2:32 p.m.: Alabama down to its last out. Lauren Esman popped up in foul territory for the first out and Kali Heivilin just struck out swinging.
Bottom of the sixth inning: UCLA 4, Alabama 1
2:26 p.m.: Alabama is unable to survive the scare. Jordan Woolery hits a moonshot to left field, clearing the fence for her 10th home run of the season and giving UCLA a 4-1 lead. Bruins are three outs away from winning their first WCWS game and putting the Tide on its heels one game into the event.
2:25 p.m.: Beaver strikes out UCLA's Megan Grant looking. Two outs.
2:22 p.m.: After a meeting at the mound with coach Patrick Murphy and others, Kayla Beaver intentionally walks Palacios. Runners on first and second with one out for UCLA.
2:20 p.m.: A sacrifice bunt in the second at-bat advances Brady to second base and gives Alabama its first out. Big moment here with Sharlize Palacios, with five home runs in five NCAA Tournament games, at the plate. Possible that the Tide just lets her take first base and take its chances with the rest of the UCLA lineup.
2:19 p.m.: Maya Brady runs it out for an infield single to lead off the half of the inning and give UCLA the go-ahead run.
Top of the sixth inning: Alabama 1, UCLA 1
3:15 p.m.: Dowling strikes out swinging, and that takes us to the bottom of the sixth with Brady leading off.
3:12 p.m.: Tinsley's pitch is low, allowing Giles to advance to second. Next pitch, Valentine flys out to center for out No. 2.
3:10 p.m.: Tinsley hits Marlie Giles in her right hand to get a runner on. The officials are convening.
3:08 p.m.: Jenna Johnson's up for Alabama, which is 4-5-6 in the order. She pops up to shortstop for the first out.
Bottom of the fifth inning: Alabama 1, UCLA 1
2:05 p.m.: Another ground-out to second base by Meoño for another 1-2-3 inning for Beaver and Co.
2:04 p.m.: Malau'ulu grounds out to second for out No. 2.
2:03 p.m.: Larissa Preuitt fields the grounder from Curo for the first out of the inning.
Top of the fifth inning: Alabama 1, UCLA 1
1:58 p.m.: Patrick Murphy challenges to see if UCLA obstructed the base-running path, but the call is upheld on the field. The Crimson Tide gets one on, but leaves three stranded due to aggressive base-running.
1:56 p.m.: Kenleigh Cahalan rips one to right-center field to score Dowling from third to tie the game at 1-1, but Heivilin tries to score from second. She's easily tagged out at home to end the inning.
1:54 p.m.: Lauren Johnson takes a 3-0 lead in the count, takes two strikes, then pops it up for an infield fly ball to put a second out on the board.
1:51 p.m.: Tinsley walks White with four straight balls to load the bases for Alabama with just one out.
1:48 p.m.: Kali Heivilin hits one into left-center field just over the shortstop's glove. Dowling opts to stay at first, keeping runners on first and second.
1:47 p.m.: Lauren Esman drops down a sac bunt to move Dowling to second — the Tide's first runner in scoring position of the WCWS.
1:44 p.m.: Kelly Inouye-Perez comes out to the circle, and it looks like there will be a pitching change. The Bruins will go with sophomore Taylor Tinsley, who in 31 appearances has a 1.97 ERA in 138 2/3 innings pitched.
1:43 p.m.: Bailey Dowling gets a lead-off single for Alabama: Kaitlyn Terry attempts to field the ball, but it bounces off her glove into an open space vacated by the second baseman into right-center field.
Bottom of the fourth inning: UCLA 1, Alabama 0
1:38 p.m.: Meanwhile, it's three up, three down for Beaver in the circle: Megan Grant grounds out to second, Jordan Woolery strikes out looking and Savannah Pole grounds out to third.
1:36 p.m.: In an interview with ESPN's Holly Rowe, Alabama coach Patrick Murphy says Larissa Preuitt was dealing with "a little bit of a hamstring issue" before the game and as she headed to first base after her hit, it "kind of pulled a little bit" about 10 feet down the line.
"It's just not worth trying to go for the game," Murphy said.
Top of the fourth inning: UCLA 1, Alabama 0
1:32 p.m.: UCLA allows the initial baserunner, but Bruins starter Kaitlyn Terry strikes out Riley Valentine to end the top half of the inning.
1:28 p.m.: Marlie Giles is walked, but caught stealing at second base during the next at-bat. It's noted on the broadcast, but video replays seemed to indicate that she was safe. No challenge from Alabama, in part because Giles didn't appear to express she thought she was safe.
Bottom of the third inning: UCLA 1, Alabama 0
1:23 p.m: Next play, Beaver takes a come-backer from Sharlize Palacios and deals for a 1-6-3 double play.
1:20 p.m.: And UCLA strikes first. Jadelyn Allchin rips one another to right-center field, and Lauren Johnson commits an error fielding the grounder, allowing Meoño to score from second.
1:19 p.m.: Sure enough, Brady rips one to right-center field. UCLA has runners on first and second.
1:18 p.m.: Next pitch, Beaver hits Janelle Meoño square in the knee to put a runner on - dangerous with Brady coming up to bat.
1:17 p.m.: Thessa Malau'ulu skips one down the first-base line, and it's easily fielded for an out.
Top of the third: Alabama 0, UCLA 0
1:13 p.m.: Lauren Johnson gets a hit into right field, but Kristen White grounds out to the short stop to end the inning. For the third time this game, Alabama strands a runner.
Second inning: Alabama 0, UCLA 0
1:05 p.m.: Three up, three down for UCLA. Alabama starter Kayla Beaver is perfect through two innings.
1:00 p.m.: Whatever threat there was from Dowling's single is short-lived. Lauren Esman pops out to center and we're on to the bottom half of the inning.
12:58 p.m.: Lauren Dowling rips a single to left field with two outs in the top of the second. Alabama with a runner on base.
12:50 p.m.: A couple of baserunners allowed, one on a passed ball third strike and another on a fielder's choice, but Alabama gets out of the first inning unscathed. A couple of scares, with Sharlize Palacios very nearly hitting a two-run homer before the ball sailed just foul in left field, but the Tide are back at the plate with the game scoreless.
12:41 p.m.: Johnson is stranded on first as the Tide pops up to center to end the top of the first.
12:40 p.m.: Larissa Preuitt gets a single with one out for Alabama, but she's checked on by Patrick Murphy and team trainers at first base and ultimately subbed out of the game, with Lauren Johnson coming on as a pinch runner. No elaboration on the broadcast as to what happened with Preuitt.
Pregame
12:27 p.m.: The Tide's lineup for its WCWS opener.
12:10 p.m.: Alabama staying warm in what has to be an awkward arrangement for elite athletes.
12:07 p.m.: A little chatter about the upcoming matchup to keep you occupied before first pitch.
11:59 a.m.: Alabama confirms the new start time.
11:51 a.m.: We have a start time! Anna Snyder of the Tuscaloosa News, who is on the scene in Oklahoma City, reports that the tarp has been removed and first pitch is scheduled for 12:36 p.m. CT.
In the meantime, "First Take" is diving into whether Aaron Rodgers needs another Super Bowl to be in the GOAT conversation.
11:46 a.m.: The NWS' latest update indicates that "showers and thunderstorms will continue to be possible this afternoon," with some of those storms producing strong winds and hail. Looks like the delay will last a bit longer.
Meanwhile, the debate on "First Take" wages on: is Kawhi Leonard the worst superstar in sports?
11:12 a.m,: For a better look at what's going on with the weather in the Oklahoma City area, here's the latest radar image from the National Weather Service based out of nearby Norman.
Looks like the re-run of "First Take" on ESPN is going to be running a bit longer. If you're hungry for some NBA Western Conference Finals discussion.
10:52 a.m.: We've got a weather delay in Oklahoma City due to lightning. Alabama vs. UCLA will have to wait.
10:28 a.m.: UCLA's starting lineup. First up for the Bruins is Maya Brady, who has something of a famous uncle.
8:46 a.m.: A little early-morning motivation for the Crimson Tide and its faithful:
What channel is Alabama vs UCLA softball on today?
- TV channel: ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN App, Fubo (free trial)
ESPN will broadcast Alabama’s game against UCLA. Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Michele Smith (analyst) and Jessica Mendoza (analyst) will be on the call while Holly Rowe serves as the on-field reporter.
Streaming options for the game include the ESPN App and Fubo, the latter of which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
Alabama vs UCLA softball start time
- Date: Thursday, May 30
- Time: 11 a.m. CT
First pitch for the game between the Tide and Bruins is set for 11 a.m. CT Thursday from Devon Park in Oklahoma City.
REQUIRED READING: Life after Montana Fouts for Alabama softball: Pitching still powers Tide to WCWS | Goodbread
Alabama softball schedule 2024
Here are Alabama NCAA softball tournament results. To view the Tide’s full 2024 schedule, click here.
Tuscaloosa Regional
- Friday, May 17: Alabama 1, USC Upstate 0
- Saturday, May 18: Alabama 6, Southeastern Louisiana 3 (nine innings)
- Sunday, May 19: Alabama 12, Southeastern Louisiana 2 (five innings)
Knoxville Super Regional
- Friday, May 24: Tennessee 3, Alabama 2
- Saturday, May 25: Alabama 3, Tennessee 2 (14 innings)
- Sunday, May 26: Alabama 4, Tennessee 1
Women's College World Series
- Thursday, May 30: vs. UCLA
UCLA softball schedule 2024
Here are UCLA softball’s NCAA softball tournament results. To view the Bruins’ full 2024 schedule, click here.
L.A. Regional
- Friday, May 17: UCLA 9, Grand Canyon 0 (five innings)
- Saturday, May 18: UCLA 7, Virginia Tech 6
- Sunday, May 19: UCLA 9, Grand Canyon 1 (five innings)
L.A. Super Regional
- Thursday, May 23: UCLA 8, Georgia 0 (six innings)
- Friday, May 24: UCLA 6, Georgia 1
Women's College World Series
- Thursday, May 30: vs. Alabama
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