UCLA softball rallies for wild win over Cal Baptist in NCAA Tournament opener

Their postseason fate unexpectedly teetering as they gathered along the third-base line, down to their final three outs in their NCAA Tournament opener, the UCLA softball players delivered a message.“They were all telling me, ‘We will win — we’re going to win this game,’ ” coach Kelly Inouye-Perez said.Why not?A seventh-inning comeback was practically the only thing missing from a wildly vacillating game in which the Bruins built a big early lead and then gave it all away while surrendering 10 runs in an inning for the first time in more than a quarter of a century.None of that mattered given their resolve — and powerful offense.“There were no moments,” UCLA slugger Jordan Woolery said, “where we doubted our abilities.”That belief was rewarded with one final plot twist Friday night at Easton Stadium, the Bruins scoring three runs in the final inning to rally for a 12-11 victory over California Baptist.Aleena Garcia’s sacrifice fly to right field drove in Rylee Slimp with the winning run, sparking a spirited celebration for a team that persevered through extreme momentum swings.“Bruin Magic is real,” Inouye-Perez said on a night that her team hit four homers and survived a nightmarish fifth inning.Cal Baptist sent 14 batters to the plate in that inning, benefiting from three walks, two homers and a few sloppy plays from Bruins defenders while transforming a 7-1 deficit into an 11-7 lead.It represented the most runs UCLA (48-8) had allowed in an inning since giving up 11 against Arizona on April 3, 1998.Ultimately, it didn’t matter for a team that moved into the winner’s bracket.“I’m just going to say welcome to the postseason, right?” Inouye-Perez said.The Bruins won’t immediately face an elimination game in their bid to reach their third consecutive Women’s College World Series.Trailing by two runs entering the bottom of the seventh, the Bruins got it done.Soo-Jin Berry stroked a one-out single to left field before freshman ...