In a moment that will be etched in softball history, UCLA's Megan Grant has officially tied the Division I single-season home run record, launching her 37th dinger of the year on Friday. The senior slugger matched the legendary mark set by Arizona's Laura Espinoza back in 1995, sending a solo shot soaring over the fence in the second inning of UCLA's commanding 19-5 victory over Wisconsin in the Big Ten Tournament semifinal.
Grant entered conference tournament play trailing Oklahoma's Kendall Wells by just one home run. But she wasted no time making her move, going deep once against Penn State on Thursday and then again against the Badgers on Friday. Wells, meanwhile, was held homerless in Oklahoma's loss to Georgia in the Southeastern Conference Tournament on Thursday, giving Grant the opening she needed to pull even.
With the record now shared, Grant has a prime opportunity to claim sole possession of first place when UCLA faces Nebraska in the Big Ten championship game on Saturday. But the race is far from over. Wells still has 36 home runs and plenty of postseason ahead, while Grant's own teammate, Jordan Woolery, is lurking with 33 homers of her own. The battle for the all-time record could stretch all the way to the Women's College World Series, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
For softball enthusiasts and gear lovers alike, this is the kind of historic chase that makes the sport unforgettable. Whether you're tracking Grant's power surge or just looking for the perfect jersey to rep your favorite player, one thing is clear: this season is rewriting the record books.
