March 25, 2000
LOS ANGELES - The UCLA softball team dropped both games of an exhibition doubleheader to the U.S. Olympic Team at Easton Stadium on Saturday afternoon in front of a standing room only crowd of 1,218 softball fans. The U.S. National Team won by scores of 3-0 and 2-0 (eight innings), and both games were scoreless heading into the top of the seventh inning. The doubleheader was also governed by international rules, requiring that the pitching rubber was 40 feet from the plate, not the NCAA-mandated 43 feet.
In the day's opener, U.S. Olympic Team alternate Amanda Freed pitched for the Bruins, and fanned seven batters while taking the loss. Freed looked impressive through her first six innings in the circle, as she did not allow a ball out of the infield and struck out the side in the fifth inning. During that stretch, she allowed just two hits, both to shortstop Jennifer McFalls.
For the Bruins, Toria Auelua blooped a leadoff single to left field in the third inning, but was stranded at first base, facing USA starter Michelle Smith. The only other UCLA hit of the game came off of reliever Danielle Henderson, who pitched the final three innings, when Julie Adams lined a hit down the left field line.
All of the National Team's scoring came in the top of the seventh inning, on a walk and stolen base by Lisa Fernandez, and singles by Jennifer Brundage, Sheila Douty and Stacey Nuveman.
In the nightcap, Stephanie Swenson got the start for UCLA, and posted eight strikeouts, scattering three hits over the first seven innings. The Bruin offense was quiet yet again, as Christa Williams and Lori Harrigan combined for the no-hitter.
National Team's only two runs came in the top of the eighth inning, when Christie Ambrosi started the inning at second base as USA's international tiebreaker runner. Ambrosi and Brundage would both score, unearned, to give the National Team the 2-0 extra-inning victory.
This doubleheader does not count towards UCLA's 25-5 overall record in 2000. The Bruins return to action on Friday, March 31 in their Pac-10 opener at Cal. From there, UCLA travels to Stanford for a weekend series against the Cardinal. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday's game at Stanford also scheduled for 2 p.m., while Sunday's first pitch will be at 1 p.m.