Two late homers carry Alabama past UCLA at WCWS

Brooke Wells hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the sixth inning, leading Alabama to a 6-3 win over UCLA in an opening-round game of the Women's College World Series on Thursday in Oklahoma City.

The Bruins led 3-1 before Alexis Pupillo socked a two-run homer in the fifth inning.

Wells finished 2-for-4 for the Crimson Tide (55-7), who will oppose either Arkansas or Nebraska in a winners-bracket game in Bracket 2 on Saturday. The Razorbacks and Cornhuskers were set to play late Thursday night, with the loser due to oppose the Bruins on Friday in an elimination game.

Alabama's Jena Young went 3-for-3 and scored three runs. Jocelyn Briski pitched all seven innings for the Crimson Tide, striking out nine without a walk. She permitted three runs on six hits.

Rylee Slimp hit a two-run homer in the second inning for UCLA (52-9), and the next batter, Megan Grant, also went deep. Taylor Tinsley threw a complete game, yielding six runs on 10 hits in six innings. She fanned five and walked two.