UCLA's Megan Grant hits 36th HR as college softball home run record race heats up
UCLA senior Megan Grant hit her 36th home run of the year Thursday to tie Oklahoma catcher Kendall Wells for the most this season.
The college softball home run record chase is heating up. UCLA senior Megan Grant hit her 36th home run of the year in the first inning of the Bruins ' Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal game against Penn State on Thursday. The homer tied Oklahoma catcher Kendall Wells for the most this season.
Both players are one home run away from tying the single-season record set in 1995 by Arizona's Laura Espinoza (37) in 72 games. Grant approached the plate in the bottom of the first inning to face Penn State pitcher McKenna Young as the game was tied 0-0. Grant sent the first pitch she saw out of the park to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead.
It marked the start of an offensive masterpiece for the Bruins as shortstop Aleena Garcia and third baseman Bri Alejandre also hit home runs in the first inning to give UCLA a 3-0 lead. Catcher Alexis Ramirez hit a homer in the bottom of the third inning to extend UCLA's lead to 5-0 and an RBI triple from Jolyna Lamar made it 6-0. UCLA head coach Kelly Inouye-Perez said she loves the offensive firepower from her squad.
"It's a new season and we came to play. I love how when we come out like that and do some powerful things, I still sit here and say that the power that's in the game today is just, it's amazing. Some of those balls left the park pretty far.