Tennessee Softball Survives Elimination in WCWS Thriller, Edges Past UCLA Despite Controversial Game-Tying Home Run Review Decision

In a game that had everything—momentum swings, elite pitching, offensive bursts, and a high-stakes review that left fans on edge—the Tennessee Lady Vols escaped elimination in the Women’s College World Series with a dramatic 5-4 victory over UCLA on Sunday night in Oklahoma City. But while the win pushes Tennessee forward in the double-elimination bracket, it did not come without controversy, as a questionable home run call in the sixth inning ignited debate across the softball world.

With their season on the line after a narrow loss to Texas in their WCWS opener, the Lady Vols turned to their ace, Payton Gottshall, to keep their championship hopes alive. On the other side, UCLA rolled out their freshman phenom Kaitlyn Terry, looking to bounce back after being held scoreless in a loss to Oklahoma.

For much of the night, it was a classic duel between two programs rich in history. Gottshall looked poised from the start, mixing rise balls and drop balls to keep the Bruins off balance. She retired the first six batters she faced and worked her way out of a jam in the third inning by striking out two Bruins with runners in scoring position.

Tennessee opened the scoring in the top of the fourth, sparked by a leadoff double from Kiki Milloy, the program’s all-time home run leader. After advancing on a wild pitch, Milloy crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by McKenna Gibson, giving the Lady Vols a 1-0 lead.

But the lead wouldn’t last long.

In the bottom half of the fourth, UCLA found its rhythm. A sharp single from Megan Grant followed by a double down the right-field line by Sharlize Palacios put two runners in scoring position with one out. Maya Brady, the Bruins’ senior leader and heartbeat of the offense, delivered a clutch two-run single to center, pushing UCLA in front 2-1 and firing up their dugout.

However, Tennessee didn’t flinch.

After a quiet fifth inning, the Lady Vols broke through in the top of the sixth. With one out, Giulia Koutsoyanopulos drew a walk and promptly stole second. That brought up Rylie West, who turned on a fastball and launched it into the left-field bleachers for a two-run home run, reclaiming the lead for Tennessee at 3-2. West’s blast sent the Tennessee dugout into a frenzy and reestablished the momentum in their favor.

Moments later, Zaida Puni lined a single through the left side, setting the table for the sequence that would define the game—and perhaps the tournament.

With two outs, Milloy stepped in and connected on a deep fly ball to right-center field. As the ball approached the fence, UCLA’s outfielder attempted a leaping grab, but the ball appeared to hit the top of the wall before bouncing over. Initially ruled a home run, umpires went to review amid UCLA’s protest that the ball may have hit padding or possibly been fan interference.

The review lasted several minutes, with cameras capturing every angle and fan bases holding their breath. Ultimately, the call stood as a two-run homer, and Tennessee extended its lead to 5-2.

UCLA head coach Kelly Inouye-Perez was visibly frustrated after the ruling, arguing with umpires and needing to be calmed by assistants. The ESPN broadcast team, along with many observers on social media, questioned whether the ball had definitively cleared the fence or whether there had been interference from a Tennessee fan reaching over.

Nonetheless, the scoreboard read 5-2, and the Bruins were left needing a rally in the final two innings.

To their credit, UCLA refused to go quietly. In the bottom of the sixth, Palacios singled and Brady walked, prompting Tennessee coach Karen Weekly to turn to her bullpen. Karlyn Pickens entered and immediately surrendered a single to load the bases. A sacrifice fly brought in one run, and a wild pitch allowed another to score, suddenly making it a 5-4 ballgame with the tying run on second.

Pickens regained composure and induced a groundout to end the inning, preserving the slim lead going into the seventh.

In the final frame, Tennessee failed to add insurance, going down in order. That set the stage for a tense bottom of the seventh, with UCLA’s season hanging by a thread.

Brady came up with two outs and nobody on—one swing away from tying the game—but Pickens rose to the moment, striking her out on a devastating changeup to clinch the win and send Tennessee into the next round.

The Lady Vols celebrated as if they had won the championship, and understandably so. For a team that lost six starters from last year’s WCWS squad and fought its way through the SEC gauntlet to return to Oklahoma City, surviving a power like UCLA was no small feat.

After the game, Coach Weekly deflected attention away from the controversial homer and instead praised her team’s resilience.

“We fought,” she said. “This team never stops competing. There were moments where it looked like the game could slip away, but they kept believing in each other.”

West, whose sixth-inning homer turned the tide, echoed that sentiment.

“We’ve been doubted all year. People said we couldn’t get back here, couldn’t compete at this level,” West said. “But we believe in what we’re building. That’s all that matters.”

Still, the controversy surrounding Milloy’s home run will linger. In the postgame press conference, Inouye-Perez declined to directly criticize the umpires but made her feelings clear.

“I just hope that in games of this magnitude, we get it right,” she said. “I’ll leave it at that.”

Several softball analysts also weighed in on the review, with many agreeing that the angles available were inconclusive and that the umpires were correct to let the call stand due to lack of clear evidence. However, they also pointed out that such moments underscore the need for improved camera angles and review processes in future WCWS tournaments.

Tennessee now advances to face the loser of the Oklahoma-Texas matchup in another elimination game. Meanwhile, UCLA’s season comes to a heartbreaking end, as the Bruins—11-time national champions—fall short of the WCWS semifinals for the second time in three years.

For the Lady Vols, the journey is far from over, and if Sunday night’s thriller is any indication, their remaining games will be anything but predictable.

Pitching remains a question for Tennessee going forward. While Gottshall was solid through five innings, the staff had to rely on multiple arms to close out the game. Pickens, in particular, will need to steady herself, as deeper runs in the WCWS often require shutdown relief performances in back-to-back days.

On offense, Tennessee’s confidence should be riding high. Milloy’s controversial but clutch home run aside, the Lady Vols showed timely hitting and poise in pressure situations, particularly from upperclassmen like West and Gibson. If they can continue to manufacture runs against elite pitching, their path to the championship series—while difficult—is not unrealistic.

This game will be remembered not only for the scoreboard but for the chaos and intensity that defined it. In a postseason where every inch counts, Tennessee found just enough—by bat, by bounce, and by review—to keep their title dreams alive.

As the WCWS moves forward, the Lady Vols know they’ll need cleaner play and perhaps a little less drama. But for now, they’ll take a win however they can get it. Because in Oklahoma City, survival is the name of the game—and Tennessee did just that.