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WCWS Day Two: UCLA & Oklahoma Dominate To Move To Semifinals

WCWS Day Two: UCLA & Oklahoma Dominate To Move To Semifinals

UCLA and Oklahoma softball capitalize in major rivalries on day two at the WCWS.

Jun 1, 2019 by Michael Kinney
WCWS Day Two: UCLA & Oklahoma Dominate To Move To Semifinals

OKLAHOMA CITY – As the UCLA sophomore sat in the postgame press conference alongside her teammates, she was beaming from ear to ear after coming up with a momentum-shifting homer in the Bruins 6-2 victory over Arizona at the Women’s College World Series.

“I'm usually pretty happy all the time,” Quarles said. “But that just made me happier. I just hit the ball really well.”

Quarles attitude was shared by the entire Bruins squad as they rolled through the Wildcats to earn a spot in Sunday’s Noon semifinal at USA Hall of Fame Stadium.

“Main thing was just playing for each other,” UCLA junior Rachel Garcia said. “I'd have to say it started in the locker room once again. We had a little dance party going. I think just getting after and scoring first was our main priority. We were able to do that.”

No. 6 Arizona (48-13) found themselves in trouble in the top of the third when No. 2 UCLA (53-6) loaded the bases with only one out. Garcia came to the plate and lined a shot into right field. It looked like it was going to drop but Hannah Martinez laid out to make the diving catch.

However, UCLA was still able to score a run on the tag up and take a 1-0 advantage.

The Wildcats quickly tied the game in the bottom of the inning on an Alyssa Palomino homer. It was the juniors 18th home run and 67th RBI of the season.


“I knew this game, we needed to come out strong offensively,” Palomino said. “Just kind of keeping it simple and getting back to my game and keeping my hand short to the ball. I think that was really successful for me.”

 Palomino came back up in the bottom of the fifth and the game still tied at 1-1. With a runner on first, the centerfielder had a chance to put some distance between her Wildcats and the Bruins. However, she struck out before Jessie Harper grounded out to end the inning.

UCLA came out strong in the top of the sixth when Quarles came off the bench to pinch-hit and crushed a solo shot over the centerfield fence off Taylor McQuillin.


“I didn't swing at the two previous pitches,” Quarles said. “I'm not striking out, I'm going to hit there. I saw the pitch. I'm swinging as hard as I can. I just swung. It felt pretty good.”

According to UCLA coach Kelly Inouye-Perez, it was a moment made for Quarles.

“I have literally prepared Malia for this role all season. She's been huge,” Inouye-Perez said. “I looked at Malia, she's always ready. I can look in the dugout, her eyes are right on me. I know she's always ready for an at-bat. It was a huge swing of a stick for UCLA today. Super proud. That's what you are signed up for, girl. So proud it happened.”

The Bruins put the game away in the top of the seventh when Aaliyah Jordan smacked a double into center field that scored Briana Perez. McQuillin then loaded the bases with Brianna Tautalafua, who popped out to right field. That allowed another Bruin’s run to score.


By the time the inning ended, UCLA led 6-1 and the pitching duel had become a route.

“I think we kind of just let the game get fast on us,” Palomino said. “We kind of just let Arizona softball slip our minds for an inning. I think that's kind of what happened. That can happen sometimes. It happened today. We slipped up. But we're just going to come back stronger.”

Arizona will play in the late game Saturday night against the winner of No. 5 Florida and No. 8 Alabama to keep their season going.

“I said you don't have to look any further than last year when Florida State lost their first game of the tournament,” UA coach Mike Candrea said. “Came back and won a national championship. I think the big thing is the mindset. After going through a tough game like that, you have to kind of get them healthy mentally, get their confidence back. At this stage of the game, if I need to do that, then we're in trouble because we're at the College World Series.”

Oklahoma 6, Oklahoma State 1

Bedlam was set for No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 13 Oklahoma State. After facing rival Sooner rivals three times during the regular season, the Cowgirls were ready for their chance to topple their top-ranked nemesis on the biggest stage in softball.

However, the Sooners once again showed why they are the No. 1 team in the nation. In front of a new single session WCWS record of 9,820 fans, Oklahoma’s offense and pitching were electric.

“Knowing this was part of history, who knows if it will happen again,” 

OU coach Patty Gasso said. “But the fact that the fans came out and were enjoying it, rooting for their team is what makes it special.”

It was the more experienced Sooners (56-3) with the poise and tenacity we’ve seen from freshmen to seniors all season long that elevated this team to the WCWS semifinals. OU jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning off a big hit from Jocelyn Alo.


In the top of the fifth inning, the game was delayed 17 minutes after several of the stadium lights went out.

“It was pretty cool. I think we were already having a party, but once the lights went out, we knew we had a chance to get the whole crowd in with us,” OU’s Nicole Mendes said. “Any time we get the crowd engaged with us, it makes it ten times more fun, say Boomer Sooner.”

When the game resumed, the Cowgirls (45-16) had an opportunity to cut into the Sooners lead. They put a runner on first with no outs.

But that was when OU pitcher Giselle Juarez started dealing. She recorded three straight outs to end the inning.


Oklahoma came back in the top of the sixth and loaded the bases. Oklahoma State’s pitchers walked in three straight runs to put the game away.

OU ended the night with eight hits by eight different players. Juarez picked up her 28th win of the season after striking out 11 batters in six innings of work.

“It was fun. I mean, I knew they were going to fight early in the game,” Juarez said. “I think it was just keeping them off balance. Coach Rocha did an amazing job of playing chess with them, mixing things up when needed to. It was awesome.”

The Sooners have Saturday off as they advance to Sunday’s semifinal round for the fourth straight season. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m.

 Oklahoma State returns to action at 6 p.m. Saturday elimination round where they will face the winner of the Washington and Minnesota game.  A win would push them into the semifinals, However, a defeat 

closes out the Cowgirl’s season.

“This game, it happened, it's done,” Show said. “We can't think about it again. We just have to focus on the game ahead of us because that's the most important one. Just reminding them we're really good.”