COLUMBIA, S.C. — Have you ever heard a song by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony at a baseball game before? How about a softball game?
Before this weekend, I couldn’t say that I had either. With apologies to the great talents of Bizzy Bone, Wish Bone, Layzie Bone, Krayzie Bone and Flesh-n-Bone, “Crossroads” and “1st of tha Month” aren’t exactly tunes that evoke the warm and fuzzy feelings of a ballpark.
However, I think my opinions about what is and isn’t appropriate music for the diamond changed at Beckham Field in Columbia, South Carolina, on Friday when I heard “Thuggish Ruggish Bone” pumping from the speakers as UCLA’s Kaniya Bragg made her way towards the batter’s box.
That beat still slaps. It’s fun. It evokes nostalgia. It brought a smile to my face and made me nod my head. It was awesome. Moreover, it was fun and unique, and that’s what makes college sports what it is.
So I decided I would keep notes on the walk-up songs that I heard over the deafening chants of “GAME-COCKS” while seated at the Super Regional matchup between UCLA and South Carolina.
The Bones did bring good fortune to the Bruins, as they beat South Carolina in three games to go to the Women’s College World Series for the 18th time this century. The Gamecocks weren’t as lucky, but at least we all got to enjoy some good tunes.
Here’s a completely subjective and unscientific ranking of the best walk-up songs I heard in Columbia this past weekend.
9. “Red Dirt Road” — Ella Chancey, South Carolina
*deep breath*
“IT’S WHERE I DRANK MY FIRST BEER…”
A timeless small-town country ballad by Brooks & Dunn that you can’t help but sing along too.
8. “Surround Sound” — Rylee Slimp, UCLA
This song has a catchy hook about selling drugs, a sample from the great Aretha Franklin, and a beat that absolutely knocks. I’ve heard this one at several college football, basketball and now softball games, and it feels like it’s making itself at home as a go-to for pregame hype music.
7. “Cowgirls” — Arianna Rodi, South Carolina
This song by Morgan Wallen and Ernest is another recent hit that feels like it has some staying power in the walk-up music pantheon, especially in the SEC and other programs in the South. It’s a crowd-pleaser in that it’s a country song with a hip-hop beat, and does a nice job of meshing the two genres together.
6. “It Was A Good Day” and “It’s a Great Day to be Alive” — Emily Vinson, South Carolina
Vinson rotated her walk-up music with throwback tunes from Ice Cube and Travis Tritt in an attempt to, I assume, manifest good days for herself at the plate. She had just two hits in the series, but it’s always great to hear the music of Mr. Cube and Mr. Tritt.
5. “California Love” — Emma Sellers, South Carolina
Sellers hails from Lakewood, California, in Los Angeles County, so the throwback track from Tupac and Dr. Dre felt appropriate and personal as her Gamecocks took on UCLA.
4. “Gasolina” — Sofia Mujica, UCLA
This one from Daddy Yankee is a classic. Play it at every game. It gets the people going.
3. “Wanna Be” – Megan Grant, UCLA
No, not the Spice Girls’ song. This is from GloRilla and Megan Thee Stallion and came out last year. More than any other song I heard, this one — the lyrics, the beat, the vibe, all of it — just exuded confidence and swagger. It felt like fear was reaching the opposing pitcher when they heard “Go Meg, Go Meg, Go Meg,” from the loudspeaker, which is the portion of this song Grant appropriately selected for her walk-up music. And indeed, she has 25 home runs this season, good enough for fourth in the country. She drew three walks in UCLA’s decisive Game Three win over South Carolina.
2. “Keep their Heads Ringin’” — Karley Shelton, South Carolina
Like the track from Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, you can file this 1995 jam from Dr. Dre under songs I didn’t expect to hear at a softball game in 2025, but am oh so happy I did. You’re bobbin’ your head right now just thinking about it.
1. “Thuggish Ruggish Bone” — Kaniya Bragg, UCLA
10-out-of-10. No notes. What I loved the most about hearing this was watching Bragg nod her head to the beat, holding her bat before stepping up to the plate while the UCLA fans rocked along with it in the stands. College softball needs more ‘90s hip-hop.
