Top storylines from 2023 NCAA softball regionals
UCLA upset while San Diego State makes first super regional
While the majority of the top teams in college softball will be playing next weekend, UCLA is not one of them. Despite beginning the year an incredible 52-4, the Bruins lost some momentum as they were defeated by Utah in the championship game of the Pac-12 tournament.
Even playing at home, UCLA could not recapture the magic it had through most of the season, in large part due to some cold bats at the plate. In their first game of the regional round, the Bruins suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of Grand Canyon. While most expected UCLA to bounce back in game two of the tournament against Liberty, the Bruins failed to do so as pitcher Brooke Yanez gave up runs in the fourth and seventh innings while UCLA could only muster up one run in the first.
馃毃 NO. 2 HAS BEEN ELIMINATED IN JUST TWO GAMES 馃毃 x 馃帴 ESPN2 /
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball)
UCLA鈥檚 early exit opened a door for Mountain West champion San Diego State, and the Aztecs took full advantage. Following dominant shutout wins over Liberty and Grand Canyon to start the tournament, San Diego State again faced the Flames with a chance to move on to the next round. Despite Liberty taking an early 2-0 lead, the Aztecs would tie the game in the fourth, and scored four runs in the sixth thanks to a two-run homer from sophomore AJ Murphy.聽
A 饾悺饾悽饾惉饾惌饾惃饾惈饾悽饾悳 moment for ! 馃憦
x 馃帴 ESPN+— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball)
The win helped lead San Diego State to its first super regional in program history where the Aztecs will take on No. 15 Utah. Meanwhile, UCLA鈥檚 championship hopes ended in shocking disappointment.聽