No. 1 Alabama erased an early deficit to beat No. 8 UCLA 6-3 in the Women's College World Series opener. Marlie Giles singled home a run in the first before UCLA punched back with a three-run third on Rylee Slimp's two-run homer and Megan Grant's solo shot. Alexis Pupillo drew the Tide even at 3-3 with a two-run blast in the fifth, and Brooke Wells broke it open an inning later, launching a three-run homer to center for the lead. Ace Jocelyn Briski went the distance — six hits, no walks, nine strikeouts — to improve to 24-3 and send Alabama to the winners' bracket.