UCLA’s Aaliyah Jordan gestures to her team as she runs in after hitting a home run against Oklahoma in the first inning of the first game of the best-of-three championship series in the NCAA softball Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Monday, June 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

UCLA’s Aaliyah Jordan gestures to the Oklahoma fans as she rounds third base after hitting a home run in the first inning of the first game of the best-of-three championship series in the NCAA softball Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Monday, June 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

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UCLA’s Briana Perez hits against Oklahoma in the third inning of the first game of the best-of-three championship series in the NCAA softball Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Monday, June 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

UCLA’s Kelli Goodin (14) crosses home plate against Oklahoma in the third inning of the first game of the best-of-three championship series in the NCAA softball Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Monday, June 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

UCLA’s Rachel Garcia pitches against Oklahoma in the first inning of the first game of the best-of-three championship series in the NCAA softball Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Monday, June 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)



UCLA’s Brianna Tautalafua (33) is greeted by teammates after a home run in the sixth inning against Oklahoma during the first game of the best-of-three championship series in the NCAA softball Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Monday, June 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

UCLA’s Briana Perez catches an Oklahoma hit to left field in the third inning of the first game of the best-of-three championship series in the NCAA softball Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Monday, June 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

Oklahoma’s Shannon Saile pitches against UCLA in the first inning of the first game of the best-of-three championship series in the NCAA softball Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Monday, June 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

Oklahoma’s Caleigh Clifton catches a UCLA fly ball in the first inning of the first game of the best-of-three championship series in the NCAA softball Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Monday, June 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

UCLA’s Rachel Garcia pitches against Oklahoma in the first inning of the first game of the best-of-three championship series in the NCAA softball Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Monday, June 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)



OKLAHOMA CITY — Briana Perez can laugh about it now. After she watched UCLA launch four home runs and dominate the No. 1 team in the country, the UCLA shortstop has no problem joking about what head coach Kelly Inouye-Perez called a “horrific” batting practice before one of the biggest games of the year.

“Coach can say she was trying to fix things, she literally made things worse,” Perez said laughing.

UCLA shook off its botched batting practice and exploded for a 16-3 thumping of top-ranked Oklahoma on Monday in Oklahoma City as the Bruins moved within one win of their first NCAA softball title since 2010.

Free from the mercy-rule limitation of eight runs after five innings, the No. 2 Bruins (55-6) scored 11 runs in the sixth and seventh innings, emptied their bench and set the largest margin of victory for a WCWS championship series game.

“They were telling me, they were passing the bat,” Inouye-Perez said. “They wanted opportunities for their teammates. … A big part of our success is their ability to play for each other.”

Oklahoma (57-5) is playing for its third national championship in four years, while the Bruins, the most decorated team in the sport, are trying to end the longest championship drought in program history.

UCLA can clinch the title Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. PT with a win over the Sooners, with the if-necessary Game 3 scheduled for Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. PT.

Before the game, Inouye-Perez wanted to make sure all her players went into the locker room feeling confident, so she brought them back for extra swings. But assistant coach Kirk Walker’s arm grew tired from throwing so many pitches. He threw six balls in a row. Players started fishing for pitches, missing and walking away with their heads down.

“Oh, this is great,” Inouye-Perez said with a sarcastic sigh as UCLA’s time ran out.

The coach pulled her players together and asked them to visualize the success that evaded them during batting practice. They were the top-scoring team in the WCWS. Remember what that felt like, she said.

Then outfielder Aaliyah Jordan delivered a first-inning solo home run and the Bruins instantly relaxed. They scored in every inning but the second, collected 16 hits against one of the best pitching staffs in the country and got hits from nine different players. Once senior Brianna Tautalafua ended her 0-for-24 hitting slump that had lasted nearly a month with a solo homer in the sixth inning, UCLA couldn’t be stopped.

Second baseman Kinsley Washington went 4 for 4 with an RBI double. Perez hit her first homer of the year with a three-run shot in the sixth, and pitcher Rachel Garcia had a team-high four RBIs.

“They absolutely cleaned our clocks,” OU head coach Patty Gasso said.

Knowing that Oklahoma pitcher Giselle Juarez, who had a 0.87 postseason ERA entering the championship game, was going to be difficult to crack, Inouye-Perez tasked her team with testing the Sooner defense.

Oklahoma was tied for the national lead in fielding percentage (.987) Monday, but committed four errors, including three on consecutive plays in the third inning. Gasso called it the team’s worst game of the season on the biggest stage.

With a commanding lead, Garcia finally rested for the first time in Oklahoma City, throwing just five innings, giving up three hits and one run. The two-time USA Softball Player of the Year threw 472 straight pitches for the Bruins at the WCWS before another pitcher took to the circle.

Freshman Megan Faraimo went one inning and allowed a one solo home run in the sixth. Sophomore Holly Azevedo pitched the final inning with three hits and one run allowed and the UCLA pitching staff’s lone strikeout.

Closing in on the program’s first NCAA title in nine years and the school’s 118th across all sports, Inouye-Perez said she needs her team to stay true to itself. The Bruins play selflessly and joyfully, laughing and dancing through tough situations like a failed batting practice.

“You can bet we’re doing the same thing tomorrow,” Inouye-Perez said with a smile.