After years of absolute certainty, few knew what to expect from UCLA’s new, unproven arms. Neither Taylor Tinsley nor Kaitlyn Terry had ever pitched in a college postseason game. But catcher Sharlize Palacios never doubted it.
“These are pitchers who belong to OKC,” Palacios said.
UCLA’s young pitchers answered all the questions as they led the sixth-seeded Bruins back to the Women’s College World Series after a year-long absence. Terry, a freshman, and Tinsley, a sophomore, dismantled No. 11 Georgia by giving up just a combined run in two super regional victories. They are primed for their World Series debut as the Bruins face either No. 3 Tennessee or No. 14 Alabama in the first round on Thursday in Oklahoma City.
Uncertainty about the pitching staff that lost stars Megan Faraimo and Brooke Yanez may have contributed to lowered expectations in Westwood early in the year. For the first time since 2020, UCLA (41-10) was not picked by Pac-12 coaches to win the conference. It was the first time since 1998 that UCLA entered a year without any postseason pitching experience.
But instead of focusing on what Tinsley and Terry didn’t do, coach Kelly Inouye-Perez chose to remember what she already saw them do. The coach still remembers Tinsley, the top-ranked pitcher in the 2021 recruiting class, dueling with former Gatorade National Player of the Year Jordy Bahl, who is a year older than Tinsley, during travel ball. Terry was a dual-threat pitcher who was twice named Arizona’s Gatorade Player of the Year.
“They all said, ‘They have no experience.’ But they actually have a lot of experience,” Inouye-Perez said. “They’ve been playing for a long time, and that’s why we wanted them to be here at UCLA. It took some time for them to get into the game and I’m really proud because they are exactly where we need them to be at the right time.
Seeking their first NCAA title since 2019, the Bruins have won 13 straight games, putting a slow start in the rearview mirror. The Bruins struggled early as their pitchers battled injuries and learned tough lessons firsthand in games.
UCLA pitcher Taylor Tinsley delivers during the Bruins’ victory over Georgia in the NCAA Super Regional at Easton Stadium on Friday. UCLA advanced to the Women’s College World Series with the victory.
(Lillie Yazdi/UCLA Athletics)
Four of Tinsley’s eight losses this season have come in one-run games, but she still leads the Bruins with a 1.97 ERA. The Georgia sophomore took over as UCLA’s ace after waiting behind Faraimo. Tinsley starred in a critical series against Stanford, throwing 15-2/3 scoreless innings with 20 strikeouts and just one walk in the Cardinal’s first sweep of UCLA since 2017.
Tinsley “really put the team on his back,” Inouye-Perez said. But the 5-foot-9 right-hander appeared just once over the next nine games. She “needed to take a little break,” the coach said.
From there, Terry took over.
The freshman left-hander closed out UCLA’s regular-season conference title run during Tinsley’s absence and started seven straight games, a streak that ended in the NCAA regional. The Pac-12 Freshman of the Year has a 21-1 record with a 2.37 ERA. Terry’s ability to step in seamlessly puts the Bruins in a confident position heading into the World Series, Inouye-Perez said.
With the support of his teammates, Terry exudes confidence in the circle despite his relative lack of experience. In the most challenging moments, she calms herself by following a simple piece of advice from Inouye-Perez: Take a deep breath.
“It just makes me reset everything,” said Terry, who pitched a six-inning mercy-rule shutout in Game 1 of the super regional. “I feel like it keeps me loose, because when I throw tight, it just doesn’t feel good.”
Knowing the Bruins would have to rely on a young pitching staff, Inouye-Perez changed the coaching staff to return to the bullpen this season. She surrounded Tinsley and Terry with seniors at key positions on the field, with Palacios, a three-time Pac-12 All-Defensive Team honoree, at catcher, and two-time Pac-12 Player of the Year Maya Brady at shortstop. Six of UCLA’s starters are seniors or fifth-year players, and two — sophomores Jordan Woolery and Megan Grant — played more than 57 games last year.
Among such an experienced group, UCLA’s young pitchers can’t help but play like adults.
“I forgot how old they are,” said Palacios, a redshirt senior. “I feel like they are my age. Honestly, they simply exceeded my expectations.”
