UCLA
Washington
Softball Completes Sweep of Huskies with 4-3 Win
May 02, 2001 | Softball
May 2, 2001
SEATTLE - The Bruin softball team pulled out a 4-3 victory over 12th-ranked Washington on Wednesday afternoon at Husky Softball Stadium, for the team's 50th victory of the season. With the win, UCLA improves to 50-4 overall, 11-4 Pac-10, while Washington falls to 33-19, 7-8 Pac-10.
All four of UCLA's runs came with two outs in the top of the sixth inning. Centerfielder Stephanie Ramos started things off with a single to right field, followed by third baseman Tairia Mims reaching on an error by Husky third baseman Kim DePaul. Stacey Nuveman followed, crushing an 0-1 pitch over the left field fence for a three-run shot, her 15th of the season and 66th of her Bruin career. First baseman Claire Sua then made it back-to-back homers, also taking a Tia Bollinger pitch over the left field fence.
A leadoff double in the seventh inning by second baseman Crissy Buck allowed shortstop Natasha Watley a fourth opportunity to extend her 32-game hitting streak, but Watley was unable to take advantage. Her streak, tied for the fifth-longest in NCAA Division I history, came to a halt, marking the first time since February 26 that the Bruins played a game without Watley hitting safely.
Washington put together a two-out rally of its own in the bottom of the seventh inning. Shortstop Jaime Clark opened the inning with a single, followed by a strikeout for DePaul and a walk to Amanda Oleson. Christie Rosenblad was next to the plate, and she grounded into a fielders choice hit to Watley at shortstop, but Bruin second baseman Crissy Buck dropped Watley's toss, leaving the bases loaded for catcher Amy Hanson.
Hanson also grounded into a fielders choice, with the Bruins getting the lead runner, DePaul, out at the plate for the second out of the inning. Designated Player Courtney Jefferies delivered, smashing a three-run double to right center and bringing the Huskies within one run, but Bruin freshman Keira Goerl struck out Rita Roach to end the inning and the game with a 4-3 Bruins victory.
Goerl, the Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week, earned her 22nd victory of the season, pitching seven innings, striking out eight and walking one. She is now 22-1 on the season.
UCLA returns to action on Friday afternoon at Easton Stadium with a 2 pm first pitch against the Oregon Ducks. UCLA will also play Saturday and Sunday home games against Oregon State, with first pitch at 2 pm on Saturday and 1 pm on Sunday. Sunday's game will also mark the final regular season game of their careers for four Bruin seniors: Lupe Brambila, Courtney Dale, Marin Noack and Stephanie Swenson.
