UCLA Defeats Utah, 2-1, to Win Pac-12 Tournament Title

STANFORD, Calif. – Catcher Sharlize Palacios hit the go-ahead home run in the sixth inning to lead the No. 1 seed UCLA softball team to the Pac-12 Tournament title with a 2-1 victory over No. 6 seed Utah Saturday night.
 
The Bruins (37-10, 17-4 Pac-12) end their final season in the Pac-12 as both the conference regular-season and tournament champions. UCLA now owns 10 wins this season when tied or trailing in the fifth inning or later.
 
Palacios, fresh off a go-ahead two-run blast in the semifinals last night, stepped to the plate in a 1-1 tie game to lead off the bottom of the sixth. On the seventh pitch of the at-bat, Palacios rocketed another go-ahead home run off the Smith Family Stadium scoreboard to give UCLA the lead. Palacios has homered in five of her last 11 games.
 
Palacios was named the Pac-12 Tournament Most Valuable Player while Jadelyn Allchin, Kaitlyn Terry and Jordan Woolery were also named to the All-Tournament Team.
 
UCLA totaled just four hits in the game. In addition to her solo shot, Palacios doubled in her first at-bat of the game in the first inning.
 
Freshman Kaitlyn Terry started in the circle and pitched 4.2 innings before allowing her first and only run of the ballgame on a solo home run by pinch hitter Karlie Davison in the top of the fifth. Terry, who allowed just three hits tonight, picked up her team-leading 18th win of the season while striking out three Utes' (34-20) batters.
 
Terry evaded an early scoring threat in the first inning after a single by Haley Denning and subsequent throwing error by Allchin in left field put a runner on second with one out. The freshman southpaw fired back with a strikeout against the Pac-12 Batting Champion Abby Dayton. Terry retired the final batter of the inning on a pop up behind home plate which was caught by Palacios who slid to the ball on her knees.
 
UCLA scored the first run of the night in the bottom of the second on a first-pitch home run by Woolery over the center field wall. Woolery now has seven home runs on the season.
 
Terry exhibited some defensive prowess in the top of the fourth by fielding a couple comebackers to the circle. Another threat presented on a two-out double by Utah's Sophie Jacquez was put to rest on a sharply-hit groundball to Woolery at first base who tagged her bag to end the inning.
 
UCLA head coach Kelly Inouye-Perez turned to pitcher Taylor Tinsley to close out the game in the seventh inning. Tinsley, who made her second straight relief appearance of the tournament, struck out the final two batters of the game for her third save of the season.
 
Palacios' sixth-inning blast marked her 15th home run of the season which is tied with Brady for the team lead. Each of Palacios' last five home runs have either given the Bruins the lead or tied the game, dating back to April 23 at Long Beach State.
 
UCLA awaits the results of Sunday's NCAA Division I Softball Tournament Selection Show. The program will air on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. (PT).