**UCLA vs. Tennessee: Controversial Call in Women’s College World Series**
**Meta Description:** A controversial call during the UCLA vs. Tennessee elimination game in the Women’s College World Series led to a dramatic finish, with Tennessee advancing to the semifinals.
**URL Slug:** ucla-tennessee-wcws-controversial-call
**UCLA vs. Tennessee: Controversial Call in Women’s College World Series**
In a thrilling elimination game at the Women’s College World Series (WCWS) on Sunday, a controversial call overshadowed the action as UCLA faced off against Tennessee. With two outs and a runner on first, Bruins first baseman Megan Grant stepped up to the plate and hit a powerful pitch from Volunteers pitcher Karlyn Pickens, seemingly tying the game.
As Grant rounded third base and headed home to celebrate with her teammates, it became apparent that she may not have touched home plate. A teammate had to bring her back to ensure she made contact. Tennessee quickly challenged the run, prompting umpires to review the play to determine if Grant had indeed touched home plate and whether she had been “assisted” back to it. According to NCAA softball rules, a runner cannot receive physical assistance from a teammate to touch the plate.
After the review, the umpires upheld the call on the field, stating, “The runner did miss home plate and was assisted. However, that play is not reviewable, according to Appendix G.” This ruling provided a significant break for the Bruins, allowing them to extend the game.
In a dramatic turn of events, Tennessee managed to score a run in the bottom of the ninth inning, clinching a 5-4 victory. Infielder Laura Mealer delivered the winning hit, singling home Taylor Pannell. With this win, Tennessee advanced to the next round, while UCLA was eliminated from the tournament. The Volunteers are set to face Texas in the semifinals, needing to defeat the Longhorns twice to reach the championship.
In the loss, UCLA’s Sofia Mujica and Alexis Ramirez each contributed with home runs. Meanwhile, Pickens showcased her skills by pitching all nine innings for Tennessee, striking out seven batters.
As the tournament progresses, the implications of this controversial call will be discussed among fans and analysts alike, highlighting the intense nature of college softball competition.
**FAQ**
**What was the controversial call in the UCLA vs. Tennessee game?**
The controversy arose when UCLA’s Megan Grant hit a potential game-tying home run but was found to have missed touching home plate and received assistance from a teammate to return, which is against NCAA rules. The umpires upheld the run after review, leading to a dramatic finish in the game.
