No. 1 Alabama Outlasts No. 8 UCLA with Big Blasts from Pupillo, Wells

OKLAHOMA CITY–– UCLA's home run power made headlines all season, but it was Alabama's super sluggers that stepped up in the biggest moments on the biggest stage during the Crimson Tide's opening game of the Women's College World Series.

No. 1 Alabama was trailing by two runs heading into the fifth inning of Thursday's game before Alexis Pupillo tied it up with a two-run shot in the bottom of the fifth.

The Tide had struggled with runners in scoring position all game, but when Alabama's home run leader Brooke Wells stepped to the plate with two on in the sixth inning, she made sure that wasn't going to happen again. In her first ever game at the WCWS, Wells hit one over the right field wall to give Alabama a three-run lead.

That score would hold as No. 1 Alabama beat No. 8 UCLA 6-x to move into the winner's bracket at the WCWS.

Alabama junior ace Jocelyn Briski shut down the UCLA batting order the first time through, but the Bruins bats wouldn't stay down for long. UCLA rallied for three runs on four hits, including two home runs, in the third inning to take a 3-1 lead.

She did not allow another run to the potent UCLA offense over the next four innings.

This story will be updated.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/alabama as No. 1 Alabama Outlasts No. 8 UCLA with Big Blasts from Pupillo, Wells.

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