UCLA senior Megan Grant set the NCAA Division I softball single-season home run record on Saturday, hitting her 38th long ball during the Big Ten championship game against Nebraska. Grant's solo shot to deep left-center field in the third inning surpassed the previous record of 37 set in 1995 by Arizona's Laura Espinoza. Grant achieved the milestone in 55 games, 17 fewer than Espinoza. She had tied the record on Friday during a 19-5 semifinal win over Wisconsin.
Despite Grant's record-breaking performance, Nebraska defeated UCLA 7-2 to claim the Big Ten title. Nebraska's Jordy Frahm pitched a complete game five-hitter, striking out eight. Nebraska took control in the third and fourth innings, featuring a two-run home run by Kacie Hoffman and a leadoff home run by Ava Kuszak in the sixth. UCLA's Taylor Tinsley allowed five earned runs on six hits over six innings, while Grant provided the team's only RBI.
Grant's achievement adds to a historic season for the Bruins, who reached 181 home runs on Friday, eclipsing the previous record of 161 from 2021. Grant's Saturday home run brought that total to 182. Grant and teammate Jordan Woolery, who has 33 home runs, are the first teammates in NCAA softball history to each hit at least 30 home runs in the same season. Grant, who also played on UCLA's 2026 NCAA basketball championship team, has 85 career home runs.
The NCAA Division I Selection Show is scheduled for Sunday, where UCLA (47-8) will find out its postseason seeding as they seek their first Women's College World Series title since 2019. Top-seeded and second-ranked Nebraska (46-6) will make its 28th tournament appearance. This summer, Grant, Woolery, and Taylor Tinsley intend to continue their careers in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League.