UCLA softball ace Taylor Tinsley shuts down South Carolina

When it comes to UCLA softball’s pitching depth, it’s Taylor Tinsley and worry immensely.

The Bruins ace has started every postseason game and pitched more than half her team’s innings over the season.

So it was no surprise that less than 24 hours after she walked off the mound inside her home stadium, she was back on it again Saturday afternoon.

Rebounding from one of her worst outings, Tinsley delivered in a big way during the Bruins’ 7-2 victory over South Carolina at Easton Stadium in an NCAA Tournament Regional.

After getting shelled for a career-worst nine runs in one inning on Friday night, Tinsley pitched a complete game against the Gamecocks. The right-hander gave up seven hits and only two runs — both on solo home runs — while striking out six and walking one.

“In the postseason, one of the most important things you can do is have a short-term memory,” UCLA coach Kelly Inouye-Perez said, “and I couldn’t be more proud of how Taylor came out today and just played her game.”

Tinsley (29-6) said she used positive reinforcement to shake off her performance against California Baptist the previous day.

“It’s a lot of words of affirmation,” Tinsley said, “just having a game plan that I will do this for my team today, I will do this for myself today.”

Tinsley benefited from home runs from teammates Megan Grant, Aleena Garcia and Bri Alejandre – including Grant’s 39th, a two-run shot in the second inning that extended her single-season NCAA record and gave the Bruins (49-8) a 6-1 lead.

Tinsley’s heavy workload has resulted in part from the departures of fellow pitchers Kaitlyn Terry and Addisen Fisher, who transferred after last season. Terry has emerged as possibly the nation’s best left-handed pitcher for Texas Tech.

Inouye-Perez said Tinsley’s superb fitness and reliance more on finesse than power make her capable of pitching so many innings.

“Do I want her to throw every game?” Inouye-Perez said. “Of course not. Have we had Bruins who have done that in the past? Absolutely. We are a different sport than baseball that I can say mentally, physically, she’s ready, but we’re going to do whatever we can to win every game one day at a time.”

Tinsley said she embraced the challenge of pitching whenever she’s called upon.

“Any time that I get the opportunity to have the ball in my hand,” Tinsley said, “I’m really excited just because … this team is really focused on having fun and I just have fun with it.”

What it means

UCLA is now one victory away from hosting a Super Regional next weekend.

Turning point

After South Carolina mounted a two-on, one-out threat in the fourth inning, the Bruins escaped with an inning-ending double play.

With a runner on third base, UCLA center fielder Jolyna Lamar caught a fly ball and threw toward home. Bruins first baseman Jordan Woolery fielded the throw and fired the ball to third base to double off the runner who had strayed too far off the base.

Did you see that?

Kiki Rice, the recent UCLA women’s basketball star who now plays for the WNBA’s Toronto Tempo, attended the game to support her former teammate Grant and the rest of the Bruins.

MVP: Taylor Tinsley

Tinsley picked up her 21st complete game of the season, shutting out the Gamecocks over the final four innings.

Up next

The Bruins will play at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, needing one more victory to advance to a Super Regional. Should they lose the first game, they would play a winner-take-all game later on Sunday.