UCLA senior Megan Grant ties softball single-season HR mark - ESPN

UCLA senior Megan Grant hit her 37th home run of the season Friday, tying the NCAA Division I softball single-season record set by former Arizona player Laura Espinoza in 1995.

The record-tying home run came in the second inning of the Big Ten tournament semifinals against Wisconsin, a game UCLA won 19-5. Grant is one home run from breaking the record, which could happen as soon as Saturday in the final vs. Nebraska.

Grant accomplished the feat in 54 games; Espinoza set the mark in 72 games.

«I'm truly honored,» Grant told ESPN after the game. «The record has been standing for so long, so I am just blessed to be able to say I can etch my name into history just a little.»

The UCLA senior has been in a chase against Oklahoma freshman catcher Kendall Wells to break the single-season record this season. Wells remains at 36 home runs after the Sooners were eliminated from the SEC tournament early Thursday.

Both players will have a chance to add to their home run totals in the Women's College World Series, which takes place three weeks after the Big Ten tournament.

«To be honest, I think us as players, we try do the best we can no matter what,» Grant said. «Kendall Wells is doing an absolute amazing job, just being able to watch her from the outside, you just know what pure hitters look like and obviously being able to watch [teammate] Jordan Woolery — a gift every single day in front of my eyes.

»So, that's amazing, but I think when we focus in on the game, we don't really look at what we're doing on the outside in terms of home runs and counting the numbers. We just focus on what's going on within our team and how we win the ball game."

The Sooners and Bruins have shattered the record for home runs in a season. The two