UCLA softball head coach Kelly Inouye-Perez separated Megan Grant from Jordan Woolery in the batting order just once last season.
“That was the biggest deal,” Grant said with a laugh. “We literally walked up to her all serious. Had to have a talk. We were like, ‘Coach I – respectfully, never do this again. You’ve altered a dimension that no one knows about.’”
Grant and Woolery have a lot in common. Both are juniors and All Pac-12 First Team honorees, have taken on increased leadership roles and hit for power. It’s a situation that could breed a rivalry but instead has produced cohesion that apparently transcends this world.
“It could have been – even our freshman year – a competition,” Woolery said, “but I feel like there’s never been any sort of competition. We just want to make each other better and that’s why we’ve been so successful.”
The No. 5 Bruins are out to a 24-4 start with 15 mercy-rule wins. They have multiple wins over ranked teams like No. 7 Tennessee, No. 14 Oklahoma State and No. 15 Arkansas and are slated to begin Big Ten Conference play by hosting Purdue at 6 p.m. Friday to kick off a three-game weekend series.
Lately, Woolery has been batting third and Grant fourth. Their statistics are some of the best on the team. Woolery is hitting .405 with a .964 slugging percentage, 12 home runs and 45 RBI; Grant hits .323 to go with a .862 slugging percentage, 10 home runs and 32 RBI.
The batting order feels complete with the hard-hitting pair at the center of it all. Graduate transfer Jessica Clements (5 for 6 on stolen bases) has owned the leadoff spot while high-performing freshmen Rylee Slimp and Kaniya Bragg remain unpredictable to pitchers. Six players total are hitting .323 or better.
“The way that we prepared the offense,” Inouye-Perez said, “at times, you don’t know who’s who because everyone is performing to the game plan.
“The younger Bruins have been outstanding so that they have to pitch (Megan and Jordan). They’re coming up with runners on base and all of the sudden you have to pitch to Megan and Jordan because you’re coming up with some big RBI situations.”
Assistant coach Lisa Fernandez has taken over as the hitting coach this season and has a profound impact on everyone in the lineup, regardless of class.
“She’s the GOAT,” Woolery said, referring to the Bruins pitching legend as the greatest of all time. “She knows so much. And I feel like this year, especially, she’s been really willing to work with us individually based on our needs, which I really appreciate because sometimes I might need a little more or a little less. She’s really catered to what we need.”
Woolery is a pure softball player, while Grant still has some baseball in her.
She was recruited for softball but had two older brothers who played baseball and she even played the sport herself. The phrases she uses on the field and her swagger in the box come from baseball. She even flares the thumb of her glove outward.
“The relaxedness of (my body language) – I think just everything I do, in the back of my mind I kind of know it’s more geared towards baseball,” Grant said. “I don’t really see a ton of softball players do those things. Those tendencies are definitely still there.”
Grant and Woolery have moved into their next era of softball as leaders who have overcome the trauma of failing to get past the NCAA Regionals their freshman year in addition to the disappointment that came with losing after three games at the Women’s College World Series as sophomores.
They’re fostering a strong freshman class while rekindling some of the excitement they had experienced as freshmen. For example, the two had encouraged the newest Bruins to come to a gymnastics meet and lead an 8-clap in support of their fellow student-athletes.
They not only did that, but showed up in head-to-toe orange bodysuits. Jordan Chiles went on to score a perfect 10 in floor exercise after the freshman had completed their chant.
@haleymsawyerThe UCLA softball team put on orange bodysuits and came out to support the gymnastics team in their meet against Michigan State. #bigten #ncaagymnastics #gymnastics #ucla #journalism #reporter #sports #sportsreporter #softball #collegesoftball
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“This freshman group, specifically, is so fun,” Woolery said. “As you get into your later years, you’re like, I’ve been around the block a few times. But it’s all new to them. Our upperclassmen, like myself, we can get serious at practice. They kind of bring a good, more fun side to us.”
There could have been drama when Woolery was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and Grant ended up on First Team. Instead, the two are guiding orange-clad underclassmen off the field and feeding off each other in the lineup.
“You don’t see them get jealous of each other,” Inouye-Perez said. “They support and celebrate each other, which is why they’re so great. And I won’t split them up ever again.”
Purdue at No. 5 UCLA
When: 6 p.m. Friday
Where: Easton Stadium at UCLA
TV: B1G+
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