UCLA's Megan Grant ties college softball single-season home run record

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The Bruin Bombers strike again.

UCLA senior Megan Grant hit her 37th home run of the season in No. 3 UCLA's 19-5, run-rule victory over No. 7 Wisconsin in the Big Ten Tournament semifinal on Friday. With the homer, Grant surpassed Oklahoma freshman Kendall Wells for the most this season and tied Laura Espinoza's single-season record set in 1995 at Arizona.

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Grant approached the plate in the second inning to face Wisconsin pitcher Kendra Lewis as the Bruins led 6-0 following Soo-Jin Berry's grand slam in the first inning. UCLA hit four homers altogether in the blowout win over Wisconsin to bring their season total to 181. The previous single-season home run record was 161.

"My mindset was just to be aggressive and I saw a great pitch and so I went through it," Grant said after also homering on Thursday. "Personally, I just think it's a one-on-one battle between me and the pitcher. I don't really focus on anything else. Just try to barrel up the ball as much as I can. See a good pitch and hit a good pitch."

Grant has now left the yard three times in the past four games. She has at least two more games to take sole ownership of the 31-year-old home run record as UCLA is set to face No. 1 Nebraska in the Big Ten Tournament Final on Saturday. The Bruins are a shoo-in for the 2026 NCAA Tournament and are looking to make their third consecutive Women's College World Series appearance.

Meanwhile, Wells' conference tournament was cut short after No. 9 Georgia upset No. 1 Oklahoma in the SEC Tournament quarterfinal on Thursday. That means Wells will have to wait for the NCAA Tournament for another crack at the record.

USA TODAY Sports is tracking the single-season home run record chase as the postseason begins: 

Single-season home run leaders in college softball

Players in bold are actively competing this season.

Here's a look at the single-season home runs leaders in the history of college softball:

PlayerHome runsGamesYearLaura Espinoza (Arizona)37721995Megan Grant (UCLA)37542026Kendall Wells (Oklahoma)36552026Karli Spaid (Miami Ohio)36582024Jocelyn Alo (Oklahoma)34622022Jocelyn Alo (Oklahoma)34602021Jordan Woolery (UCLA)33542026Addison Barnard (Wichita State)33522022Lexie Elkins (Louisiana)32542015Camilla Carrera (UTEP)32532012Stacie Chambers (Arizona)31632009Cori McMillan (Virginia Tech)31562025Stacey Nuveman (UCLA)31691999

Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at [email protected] and follow her on X at @CydHenderson.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UCLA's Megan Grant ties college softball home run record

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