Run prevention had been the name of the game for UCLA on its way to the Women’s College World Series, but that wasn’t enough against mighty Oklahoma on Saturday.
A strong outing by Bruins starter Kaitlyn Terry was marred only by a solo home run from Tiare Jennings in the third inning, but that turned out to be all the Sooners needed. Kelly Maxwell was the reason.
Maxwell was nearly untouchable for Oklahoma, allowing just two hits and striking out 11 batters over a full seven innings. UCLA had chances, including a threat in the third inning with two runners on base and no one out, but those opportunities were largely self-inflicted by Maxwell between walks and hit batters.
She never let the Bruins take advantage, and UCLA’s offense wasn’t able to gather any momentum in the late innings despite needing just one run to extend the game.
The heart of UCLA’s lineup was shut down in the loss, with Maya Brady and Sharlize Palacios finishing a combined 0-for-7. The Sooners only had four hits themselves, but two of them — including the biggest hit of the game — came off the bat of Jennings.
MORE: Watch Women’s College World Series games live with Fubo (free trial)
Oklahoma’s path to a fourth consecutive national championship became much easier with the win, as the Sooners are heading to the semifinals and will be in the driver’s seat once they get there. UCLA, meanwhile, will play an elimination game against Stanford on Sunday in one last battle between soon-to-be-former Pac-12 rivals.
The Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights from Saturday’s Women’s College World Series showdown between UCLA and Oklahoma. Check out all of the key moments you might have missed.
UCLA vs. Oklahoma softball final score
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | F | |
| UCLA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oklahoma | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 1 |
UCLA vs. Oklahoma results, highlights from Women’s College World Series
(All times Eastern).
Final: Oklahoma 1, UCLA 0
5:30 p.m. — Brady grounds out, and that’ll do it! Oklahoma is semifinals-bound, while UCLA’s path gets that much tougher due to a lack of offensive production.
5:30 p.m. — Maya Brady is coming up with two outs and the game on the line…
5:28 p.m. — Maxwell continues to deal. She starts the inning with her 11th strikeout of the day.
End of sixth inning: Oklahoma 1, UCLA 0
5:24 p.m. — Tinsley gets the third out, and here comes UCLA with one more chance to show a pulse offensively.
5:22 p.m. — A bunt single disrupts Tinsley’s five-up, five-down streak. UCLA still just needs one more out to have a real chance in the top of the seventh.
Middle of sixth inning: Oklahoma 1, UCLA 0
5:14 p.m. — Ramsey Suarez pinch-hits for UCLA and strikes out to end the inning. The Sooners are three outs away from a shutout. Kelly Maxwell has been brilliant.
5:07 p.m. — Woolery walks, giving the Bruins two runners on with one out…
5:03 p.m. — Megan Grant beats an out and reaches base with one out to put the tying run on for UCLA.
End of fifth inning: Oklahoma 1, UCLA 0
4:58 p.m. — Tinsley works a 1-2-3 inning with the help of two pop-ups in foul territory. UCLA has two more chances to either tie this game or take the lead.
4:55 p.m. — Taylor Tinsley is in the game to pitch for UCLA, replacing Kaitlyn Terry.
Middle of fifth inning: Oklahoma 1, UCLA 0
4:50 p.m. — Brady strikes out, and Maxwell is ultimately able to get around the single to post a fifth scoreless inning. Pitching has been everything for this Sooners team today. UCLA could soon run out of time.
4:46 p.m. — A sacrifice bunt is successful, so Maya Brady comes up with one out and Malau’ulu on second.
4:44 p.m. — Thessa Malau’ulu walks to open the inning, and here’s UCLA’s chance to put something together.
End of fourth inning: Oklahoma 1, UCLA 0
4:41 p.m. — Terry gets a flyout from Jayda Coleman, and UCLA keeps this game right at 1-0 entering the fifth inning. Pressure is mounting on the Bruins’ offense.
4:39 p.m. — A hit-by-pitch with two outs extends the inning and gives Oklahoma a chance to put something together.
Middle of fourth inning: Oklahoma 1, UCLA 0
4:30 p.m. — Maxwell works around the hit and now has seven strikeouts through four scoreless innings.
4:25 p.m. — Jordan Woolery delivers UCLA’s first hit of the game with a one-out single.
End of third inning: Oklahoma 1, UCLA 0
4:19 p.m. — Terry quickly gets the third out via strikeout anyway. 1-0 Oklahoma through three.
4:17 p.m. — A catch behind the plate by Palacios is overturned upon review and keeps the inning alive. That call seemed to catch the Bruins off guard.
4:14 p.m. — Home run robbery by Janelle Meono! What a catch in centerfield. The Bruins try to double up Brito but just miss the tag. Two away.
WHOAAAA NELLY!!!
WE’VE GOT A ROBBERY!!!
📺: ABC
📲: https://t.co/T5Ovxk5ZMY#GoBruins | @janelleivyyy pic.twitter.com/Jn7TwZGqFi
Oklahoma 1, UCLA 0
4:08 p.m. HOME RUN — Tiare Jennings goes deep to give Oklahoma the lead! That one barely cleared the wall, but it marks the first run of the game for either side.
1-0, Sooners.@_tiarejennings X @ABC pic.twitter.com/CR90VmEfeR
Middle of third inning: UCLA 0, Oklahoma 0
4:05 p.m. — Sharlize Palacios strikes out, and that ends the threat by the Bruins. Maxwell is through three scoreless, hitless innings.
4:01 p.m. — Woah! Alynah Torres loses a pop-up in the sun, but the infield fly rule is called and no one scores for UCLA. Meanwhile, the ball hits Torres in the head and sends her out of the game. UCLA has runners on second and third with two outs.
3:58 p.m. — Trouble for Oklahoma as a hit-by-pitch and a walk put two runners on for UCLA with no one out…the Bruins are still looking for their first hit, though.
End of second inning: UCLA 0, Oklahoma 0
3:52 p.m. — A quick groundout gets UCLA out of it. The Bruins have done a nice join of quieting this terrific offense early on.
3:50 p.m. — Terry picks up a quick pair of outs but issues her third walk of the day to bring up the top of the Oklahoma lineup.
Middle of second inning: UCLA 0, Oklahoma 0
3:44 p.m. — Maxwell notches two strikeouts as she makes quick work of the Bruins in the top of the second. Oklahoma is coming up, looking for the first run(s) of the game.
End of first inning: UCLA 0, Oklahoma 0
3:36 p.m. — Terry gets a massive strikeout of Kinzie Hansen after walking Pickering, ending the threat. It’s all zeros through one.
3:33 p.m. — Terry gets a strikeout, and a hard line drive by Alyssa Brito is snagged for the second out. UCLA is an out away from wiggling out of this as Kasidi Pickering steps to the plate.
3:28 p.m. — The first two batters reach for Oklahoma, and Kaitlyn Terry is already in a jam for the Bruins.
Middle of first inning: UCLA 0, Oklahoma 0
3:22 p.m. — Sharlize Palacios reaches first on an error, but Maxwell quickly induces a ground ball and gets out of the inning.
3:19 p.m. — Make that back-to-back strikeouts for Oklahoma’s Kelly Maxwell.
3:17 p.m. — We are underway with a quick strikeout of Maya Brady.
3:08 p.m. — We’re set to get underway at about 3:15 p.m. ET as UCLA looks to send the three-time defending champions to an elimination game.
2:45 p.m. — Friday night offered some clarity on the path forward for these teams. Today’s losing team will face Stanford in an elimination game on Sunday, while the winner will face either Alabama, Texas or Florida on Monday.
How to watch UCLA vs. Oklahoma softball
- Start time: 3 p.m. ET
- TV channel: ABC
- Live stream: Fubo | ESPN+
Saturday’s Women’s College World Series matchup between UCLA and Oklahoma will start at 3 p.m. ET from Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma vs. UCLA will air nationally on ABC. It can also be live streamed on either ESPN+ and Fubo, which offers a free trial.
Women’s College World Series schedule 2024
Here’s a look at the Women’s College World Series schedule, including game times and TV channels.
Sat., June 1
| Game | Matchup/Results | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
| Game 7 | (6) UCLA vs. (2) Oklahoma | 3 p.m. | ABC, Fubo, ESPN+ |
| Game 8 | (1) Texas vs. (4) Florida | 7 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo, ESPN+ |
Sun., June 2
| Game | Matchup/Results | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
| Game 9 | Alabama vs. Game 8 loser | 3 p.m. | ABC, Fubo, ESPN+ |
| Game 10 | Stanford vs. Game 7 loser | 7 p.m. | ESPN2, Fubo, ESPN+ |
Mon., June 3
| Game | Matchup/Results | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
| Game 11 | Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner | Noon | ESPN, Fubo, ESPN+ |
| Game 12 (if necessary) | Game 11 rematch | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo, ESPN+ |
| Game 13 | Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner | 7 p.m. | ESPN2, Fubo, ESPN+ |
| Game 14 (if necessary) | Game 13 rematch | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN2, Fubo, ESPN+ |
Wed., June 5
| Game | Matchup/Results | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream
 
|
