Megan Grant’s grand slam helps send UCLA softball to NCAA Super Regional

LOS ANGELES — South Carolina pitcher Jori Heard warmed up in the circle while the Megan Thee Stallion song “Wanna Be” blasted through Easton Stadium — the walk-up song of UCLA power hitter Megan Grant.

“Go Meg, go Meg, go Meg,” the crowd chanted along with the lyrics.

And Meg went.

Her high-speed bat cracked as a blur of fluorescent yellow arced over the fence, sending Soo-Jin Berry, Jolyna Lamar and Rylee Slimp across the plate for a grand slam.

“I try to keep it as simple as I can,” Grant said. “I knew there was a runner on third, so I had to do a job, especially with less than two outs. Any ball that was elevated, I was gonna try to get in the air and it just happened to go over.”

The fifth-inning long ball gave UCLA a six-run lead over South Carolina and led to a 15-1 win in six innings on Sunday evening in the final game of the NCAA Los Angeles Regional.

The win sends the Bruins (50-8) to their 16th Super Regional. They went a perfect 3-0 in the regional, defeating California Baptist on Friday and South Carolina on Saturday before a rematch with the Gamecocks on Sunday.

Grant has now hit 40 home runs this season and she’s one shy of tying the UCLA program record for career home runs. Stacey Nuveman, a four-time first team All-American and three-time Olympian, holds the current record with 90.

Taylor Tinsley (30-6) got her third start in the circle of the weekend and recorded her 22nd complete game of the season. On Sunday, she allowed two hits and one run while striking out two hitters and walking two.

Tinsley and catcher Alexis “Lefty” Ramirez game plan with head coach Kelly Inouye-Perez, but call their own pitches during games.

“I trust them,” Inouye-Perez said. “And that’s how I love to coach. When I get the opportunity to have a catcher that can call a game with a pitcher and let her have a vote, then that’s as good as it gets, because they’re playing the game.”

An early mistake by South Carolina (32-28) led to a 2-0 UCLA lead at the top of the third inning.

Shortstop Shae Anderson couldn’t get a hold of the ball fast enough to throw to first base, and the error allowed Lamar to reach base. Leadoff hitter Slimp, who batted next, launched her 15th home run of the season over the left field wall, sending Lamar home in the process.

The Gamecocks went three up, three down in both the third and fourth innings before Grant’s grand slam in the fifth frame brought the score to 6-0.

Berry singled, Lamar was hit by a pitch and Slimp was walked to load the bases. With Grant on deck, South Carolina made a pitching change and brought in Heard, who had originally started the game, to replace Emma Friedel.

Grant homered on the third pitch that Heard, an All-SEC first team pitcher, dealt to her.

Quincee Lilio scored South Carolina’s only run of the game with an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth, then UCLA added another nine runs in a sixth inning that also featured two Bruin home runs.

Grant hit a two-run single to score Lamar and Jaella Ann Mercado, who was pinch running for Ramirez. South Carolina made another pitching change and brought in Nealy Lamb, but it didn’t stop the Bruins.

Jordan Woolery hit a two-run double down the left field line, Bri Alejandre hit an RBI double and Kaniya Bragg homered. Ramirez doubled and Berry brought her in with a two-run homer for a 15-1 lead.

The Gamecocks didn’t record a base hit in the bottom of the inning, ending the game in six innings and the second game that the Bruins had played against them this weekend.

“It’s just me, (coach) and Lefty connecting on a game plan of how we’re going to attack each hitter,” Tinsley said. “And same thing and goes for the regular season when we’re playing our three-game series, just coming up every single day with a new plan.

“Just be myself, go with what I know I can do best and just knowing that I’m going to get outcome and knowing that my defense also is going to work.”