UCLA
Canisius
Bruins Blank Canisius in NCAA Softball Opener
May 18, 2000 | Softball
May 18, 2000
LOS ANGELES - The UCLA softball team stole early and often on its way to an 8-0 victory over Canisius College on the first day of NCAA Regional competition. With the win, the Bruins improve to 40-11-1 on the season, while Canisius falls to 33-22. UCLA advances to play the loser of the Long Beach State-Florida State game at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, while Canisius will play Bethune-Cookman at 10 a.m. Friday.
The Bruins started it off with a double by Amanda Freed, her first of two on the day. After a walk to Natasha Watley, head coach Sue Enquist called for a double steal, which was successful. Julie Adams scored the lone run of the frame on a groundout to shortstop, which allowed Freed to score.
In the second, second baseman Lyndsey Klein walked then stole second and eventually stole third base before scoring on an error by Golden Griffin shortstop Lynn Stoczynski.
UCLA posted a big offensive inning in the bottom of the fourth, starting with a single up the middle by senior catcher Julie Marshall. Erin Rahn came in to pinch-run for Marshall, was advanced to second by Klein and promptly stole third base on another double steal. The Bruins eventually scored three runs in that inning and three more in the fourth to end the game via the mercy rule.
Freed earned the victory for the Bruins, improving her record to 22-7 on the season with the two-hitter.
All told, the Bruins set two NCAA Tournament records on the day, with Watley finishing the game with four steals, and the team finishing with 10 steals on the day. The previous record for a single player in an NCAA Tournament game was three swipes, set five times, most recently last season by Arizona's Lauren Bauer. The previous team record of seven stolen bases was also set last year, by Kansas in a game against Southeast Missouri State.
With her four steals on the day, Watley now has 31 on the season, tying the previous UCLA career stolen base record held by current U.S. Olympian Christie Ambrosi.
