UCLA
Sacramento St
No. 3 UCLA Remains Unbeaten with Sweep of Sacramento State
June 21, 1999 | Softball
March 1, 1999
LOS ANGELES - Sophomore catcher Stacey Nuveman tied the UCLA career home run mark Saturday, when she blasted her 30th career home run in the Bruins' 8-2 game-one victory over Sacramento State at UCLA's Easton Stadium. The Bruins, who took game two 9-1, remain unbeaten on the season with a perfect 16-0 record.
For Nuveman, her record-tying homer came in grand fashion as she launched one of her farthest home runs this season, taking Sacramento State pitcher Kelly Lovato deep to right field, scoring Erin Rahn from third base. In addition to the career record, Nuveman is on pace to break her own UCLA single-season home run record of 20, already with 10 in the first 16 games.
With UCLA up 5-0 in game one, Sacramento State (3-5) got on the board after an Alaina Lofthus single scored Maureen Whitney from second base. The Bruins, however, added on to their lead in the sixth inning as, following a Christie Ambrosi RBI-single, Julie Adams notched a bases-loaded double, scoring Julie Marshall and Stephanie Swenson. Sacramento State managed another run in the top of the seventh inning, however UCLA pitcher Courtney Dale was just too strong, giving up only one earned run while striking out 10 Hornet batters for her seventh victory of the season.
Christie Ambrosi was UCLA's top performer in game two as she was a perfect 3-for-3 with a home run and two RBI, extending her hitting streak to 16 games. With the Bruins up 3-1 in the bottom of the second, Ambrosi gave UCLA a 5-1 advantage, taking Hornet starter Amy Barker over the right field fence, for her second home run of the season. In the fourth inning, Marshall joined Nuveman and Ambrosi in the home run department as she blasted a three-run shot, giving UCLA a 9-1 lead, prompting a Sacramento State pitching change. UCLA's game-two pitcher Amanda Freed improved to 8-0 on the season as she picked up the complete-game victory, giving up only one run on four hits.
Sacramento State first baseman Sarah Cunningham was the Hornets' top performer on the afternoon, finishing 4-for-6 with a double and an RBI.
The Bruins continue action tomorrow, as they travel up the 405 freeway for a doubleheader with the No. 13 Long Beach State 49ers beginning at 1:00 p.m.
