Thursday, June 2
Oklahoma City, OK
9:00 AM
UCLA
vs
Texas
Delanie Wisz (photo by Ross Turteltaub)
Photo by: Ross Turteltaub
No. 5 Bruins Open WCWS Against Texas
June 01, 2022 | Softball
LOS ANGELES – The No. 5 seed UCLA softball team (48-8, 19-5 Pac-12) begins its NCAA-record 31st Women's College World Series appearance against Texas (43-19-1, 12-6 Big 12) on Thursday, June 2, at 11 a.m. CT/9 a.m. PT at USA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. The game will be televised on ESPN.
Bruin Story Lines in OKC
• UCLA will look to claim its 13th NCAA title and its first since the turn of the decade. The Bruins are the only program to have won an NCAA Championship in every decade since the association adopted the sport in 1982.
• In their second game of the double-elimination tournament, the Bruins will face either No. 1 seed Oklahoma or No. 9 seed Northwestern.
• UCLA faced Texas earlier this season at the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational on Feb. 19, resulting in a 2-1 Bruins' victory. Megan Faraimo went the distance for a complete game victory with six strikeouts and one unearned run. Aaliyah Jordan's home run in the first inning gave Faraimo all the run support she would need.
UCLA at the Women's College World Series
• UCLA is making its seventh trip in a row to OKC.
• The Bruins are 100-39 (.719) all-time at the Women's College World Series. UCLA has won an NCAA-record 12 NCAA Championships ('82, '84, '85, '88, '89, '90, '92, '99, '03, '04, '10, '19) and 13 total National Championships (AIAW title in 1978).
• UCLA has advanced to the championship game or series in 19 of its 30 Women's College World Series appearances.
Watley's Slide
UCLA and Texas – two regulars in Oklahoma City – have met four times at the Women's College World Series with the Bruins walking away victorious each time.
• In the Bruins' 2003 NCAA Championship run, they needed to oust Texas and Longhorn legend Cat Osterman twice after falling into the loser's bracket in the opening game against California. Keira Goerl, who was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in the Class of 2020 last year, twirled a two-hit shutout to lead UCLA past Texas in a 3-0 victory. In the night cap, the Bruins were down to their final out when Caitlin Benyi singled through the right side to bring Natasha Watley home who glided around Longhorn catcher Marlo Hanks' tag to walk it off with a 2-1 win.
• Keira Goerl exacted revenge and went on to throw a nine-hitting no-hitter to defeat California 1-0 in the title game. Goerl's performance was selected as one of the Top 25 Defining Moments in NCAA History during the NCAA's 100th anniversary in 2006. Goerl was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player in 2003.
UCLA-Texas Series History
The Bruins lead the all-time series with the Longhorns, 12-6. The two programs have split the last six meetings.
23 Straight Postseason Appearances
The UCLA softball program is making its 23rd consecutive and 37th overall appearance at the NCAA Softball Championships. The Bruins own a 230-62 (.788 winning percentage) record in the postseason. UCLA's last time missing out on the postseason was in the 1998 season when the Bruins posted an 18-27 record. UCLA would turn around the next year and win it all for its eighth NCAA Championship in 1999.
Super Regional Recap
UCLA took care of Duke in two games in the best-of-three series to improve its all-time Super Regional record to 24-7 (.774). It was Faraimo and Wisz who teamed up for some late-game Bru-Win magic in games one and two, respectively.
Faraimo Does Double Duty
After allowing two early runs in game one of Super Regionals, Megan Faraimo shut down Duke's batters in the final five innings, retiring the last 14 she faced in order six of which came via the K. Faraimo then rose to the occasion as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the sixth with a go-ahead, two-RBI single into right field to give herself the lead.
Wisznessing Greatness
In postseason play, Delanie Wisz ranks first out of all players in the field of 64 with 12 RBI as well as leads UCLA with a .500 batting average. She is also hitting an astounding 6-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
• Prior to her offensive heroics in the seventh inning of game two versus Duke, Wisz connected with Anna Vines to throw out a would-be base stealer in the bottom of the sixth to turn the momentum in the Bruins' favor. This is just Wisz's second season ever playing catcher.
• In the final at-bat of her career at Easton Stadium, Wisz, who had already doubled in the go-ahead run in the fifth, blew the game open in the seventh with another double, this time knocking in two Bruins.
• Earlier this postseason, Wisz launched the second grand slam of her career and put up a career-high six-RBI performance against Grand Canyon on May 20. She was drafted by the USSSA Pride earlier that day.
• Wisz has recorded at least one RBI in nine of UCLA's last 10 games and has 21 total RBI in that span (2.1 RBI/game).
• Wisz is the only Bruin to have recorded an RBI in all five games this postseason.
Perez Climbs the Hits List
With her bunt single in the seventh inning of game two against Duke, Briana Perez leapfrogged Stacey Nuveman into second place on UCLA's career hits list with 323 knocks. Perez trails Natasha Watley's program-record 395 hits by
20-Game Winners in Westwood
Holly Azevedo (20-2) picked up her 20th win of the season in game two versus Duke making her and Megan Faraimo (24-2) the first 20-win Bruin duo in 20 years. Keira Goerl (32) and Amanda Freed (21) last accomplished the feat in 2002. Azevedo and Faraimo are the only starting pitching duo in the nation to each have 20 wins this season. This is the ninth time in program history UCLA has had a pair of 20-game winners in a single season:
• 2022: Megan Faraimo (22) & Holly Azevedo (20)
• 2002: Keira Goerl (32) & Amanda Freed (21)
• 2001: Keira Goerl (27) & Amanda Freed (21)
• 1999: Courtney Dale (33) & Amanda Freed (27)
• 1997: B'Ann Burns (27) & Christa Williams (21)
• 1994: DeeDee Weiman (24) & B'Ann Burns (21)
• 1991: Heather Compton (22) & Lisa Fernandez (20)
• 1985: Debbie Doom (20) & Tracy Compton (20)
• 1984: Debbie Doom (24) & Tracy Compton (20)
UCLA Second Nationally in ERA
The Bruins trail only Oklahoma for the national lead in ERA with a team average of 1.38. UCLA has ranked within the top three nationally and led the Pac-12 in ERA in each of the last four seasons dating back to 2019 when Lisa Fernandez took over the pitching staff.
Best Pitching Staff in the Pac-12
UCLA's pitching staff ranks first in the Pac-12 in essentially every pitching category: ERA (1.38), strikeouts (463), K/7 (9.01), opponent batting average (.170), strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.17) and WHIP (0.82).
Pick Your Poison
The Bruins' arsenal of arms boasts the top two ERA leaders in the Pac-12 in Lauren Shaw (0.89) and Holly Azevedo (1.19) as well as the 2022 Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year Megan Faraimo, who leads the conference with 278 strikeouts.
Faraimo Inferno
Megan Faraimo leads the Pac-12 with a career-best 278 strikeouts and 10.71 K/7 rate. Next closest in the strikeout department is Oregon State's Mariah Mazon with 220. Of Faraimo's 278 K's, 64 of them have come looking. Through two and a half seasons, Faraimo is already eighth on UCLA's career strikeouts list (747). She will have led the Bruins in strikeouts in each of the last three seasons by the year's end.
Career Year for Azevedo
Holly Azevedo will hang up her cleats after undoubtedly the best season of her collegiate career in 2022.
• Azevedo has taken advantage of her time to shine as the second ace on the roster with a career-best 1.19 ERA, 136 strikeouts and 8.11 K/7 rate.
• All four of Azevedo's double-digit strikeout performances in her career have come in 2022, including a career-high 13 in her no-hitter of Arizona on March 20.
• Azevedo's lifetime postseason numbers entering 2022 included just one start and no decisions in 11 total appearances with a 4.20 ERA over 15.0 innings. In each of her starts three starts in the 2022 postseason, Azevedo has picked up the win and gone at least four innings while limiting her opponents to three or fewer hits.
Lefty in the Circle in Westwood
Lauren Shaw, the Bruins' graduate transfer pitcher from Iowa, is UCLA's first left-hander on its pitching staff since Paige McDuffee (2013-17). Shaw has proven a valuable asset out of the bullpen with a mean changeup. She leads the Pac-12 with a 0.89 ERA in her 55.0 innings of work. Left-handed batters are hitting just .099 (7-for-71) off Shaw.
#BackThePac
Out of the eight teams in Women's College World Series Field, three of them hail from the conference of champions (UCLA, Arizona and Oregon State) which is tied with the Big 12 in representation. Five out of the Pac-12's seven bids to the NCAA Softball Championships advanced to the Super Regional stage of 16 teams.
Talk About Strength of Schedule
UCLA faced five of the eight Women's College World Series squads during the regular season (Arizona, Northwestern, Oklahoma, Oregon State and Texas). The Bruins went 7-2 against those teams, including three-game sweeps of Arizona and Oregon State and a win over Texas.
Six Bruins Named NFCA West All-Region
UCLA placed six student-athletes on the Division I All-West Region Teams, including three to the First Team. This marks the third consecutive year dating back to 2018 that UCLA has had at least six members named All-Region. Redshirt seniors Briana Perez and Delanie Wisz and redshirt junior Megan Faraimo were named All-West Region First Team. Savannah Pola and Maya Brady were selected to the Second Team and Kinsley Washington was Third Team. All players are now eligible for All-American status, which will be announced during the WCWS.
Bruins Dominate All-Pac-12 Teams
UCLA tied with Arizona State for the most representatives on the All-Pac-12 First Team with four. Among the Bruins receiving the honor were Megan Faraimo, Briana Perez, Delanie Wisz and Holly Azevedo. This is both Wisz and Azevedo's first time receiving the honor in their careers. This marks the sixth time UCLA has featured a pitching duo on the Pac-12 First Team. Maya Brady, Kinsley Washington and Savannah Pola were named Pac-12 Third Teamers.
In UCLA's Last 10...
UCLA's 2-6 hitters – Perez, Wisz, Brady, Pola and Garcia – are hitting for a combined .462 batting average (all are .400+) and .741 slugging percentage. Wisz leads the lineup over the last 10 with a .563 batting average, 1.156 slugging percentage, 21 RBI, four home runs and five doubles. Ten of Wisz's 18 hits have come for extra bases.
Going Out in Style
In her final campaign in Westwood, Briana Perez leads the Bruins with a career-best 33 extra-base hits and is second on the squad with a career-best .393 batting average (not incl. 2020 pandemic-shortened season). Perez has recorded double-digit home runs in a season twice in her career, coming back-to-back in 2021 and 2022 for the Bruins. Perez's team-best 16 stolen bases are her highest season total since UCLA's 2019 NCAA Championship sojourn.
Perez Takes the Runs Scored Crown
Briana Perez passed Natasha Watley for UCLA's career runs scored record when she crossed home plate in game two of the Arizona State series on May 7 for the 253rd run of her career. Perez achieved the record in the 250th game of her career. Watley scored her 252 runs in 251 career games. Now up to 261 runs, Perez averages 1.01 runs scored a game in her 259-game career.
Everyday Shortstop
Briana Perez is the only UCLA senior to have started each of her 259 career games. Perez has started 258 of her 259 games at shortstop as well as started 157 straight games at the position. Perez has missed just four games in her five seasons (three missed in 2018 and one in 2019). Kinsley Washington was her replacement at shortstop for three games in 2018 and one in 2019. Briana's sister, Kylee, replaced her for one game at shortstop in 2018 as well.
UCLA's 300 Hits Club
Briana Perez became the fourth member of UCLA's 300 Hits Club in her first at-bat of game two against Oregon State on April 23 with a single to center field. She joins her sister Kylee Perez (301), Stacey Nuveman (322) and Natasha Watley (395) as the only Bruins to achieve the feat.
300 Hit Sisters
Briana and Kylee Perez are the only sister duo to have 300 career hits for the same NCAA Division I program. Of sister duos to each rack up 300 career hits are the Perez sisters, Sydney Romero (Oklahoma) and Sierra Romero (Michigan) as well as Sydni and Cortni Emanuel from Georgia (Sydni played one season at Texas Tech).
Perez and the Single-Season Triples Record
Briana Perez leads UCLA with a career high seven triples in 2022. Perez's seven triples are tied for second most in a single season by a Bruin. Andrea Duran established the single-season record with eight in 2005.
Perez Named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year
Briana Perez is the first Bruin to win Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. Perez, who was also selected to the All-Pac-12 Defensive Team, joins Washington's Sis Bates as the only players in Pac-12 history to be named to four defensive teams in a career. In 2022, Perez has recorded 66 putouts and 72 assists for a .926 fielding percentage.
One of the Greatest to Ever Put on a Bruin Uniform
By the end of Briana Perez's career, she will rank top 10 in UCLA's career record books in...
• 1st in runs scored (261)
• 2nd in hits (323)
• 2nd in games played/started (259)
• 2nd in stolen bases (73)
• T-3rd in triples (19)
• 5th in doubles (54)
• T-6th in RBI (197)
• 10th in batting average (.383)
Brady's Back
Maya Brady rode a nine-game hitting streak entering Super Regionals before it was snapped after game one. Over the Bruins' last 10 games, Brady ranks second on the team with a .469 batting average and .906 slugging percentage with five doubles and three home runs.
Wiszard of Westwood
Delanie Wisz led the Pac-12 during conference play with a .469 batting average and .575 on-base percentage. She also ranked top five in slugging (.891), hits (30) and RBI (22). Wisz was arguably the most clutch hitter in the Pac-12:
• Game 1 at Oregon State (4/22): Go-ahead two-RBI double on a 3-2 count with two outs in top of seventh
• Game 1 at Stanford (4/8): Go-ahead solo homer to center in eighth inning to help UCLA to 3-1 extra-innings W
• Game 2 vs. Oregon (4/2): UCLA rode her two-run homer in the first inning and RBI single to 5-2 victory
• Game 3 at Washington (3/27): Solo homer in the seventh proved to be the winning run in UCLA's 5-4 triumph
The Wisz Kid
Wisz has bat in the third or fourth spot in 55 of the Bruins' 56 games in 2022 and come through with clutch hit after clutch hit. Wisz boasts team-bests in batting average (.407), home runs (14), RBI (58), walks (27) and OBP (.503).
A Crash Course on UCLA Pitchers Who Rake
Megan Faraimo has been inserted to hit in 36 of UCLA's 56 games this season. She looks to join other UCLA greats who dominated in both the circle and batter's box. Two-time Honda Cup award winner Rachel Garcia, Olympian Ally Carda, 2021 UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Megan Langenfeld and three-time Olympic gold medalist Lisa Fernandez are charter members of the "Pitchers Who Rake" club.
Garcia finished her career with a 99-17 record, 1.43 ERA , 43 homers and a .337 batting average. Langenfeld hit for .385 (.527 as a senior in 2010) and 39 homers and collected a 53-9 record and 1.42 ERA in her career. Fernandez recorded a .382 batting average and 15 homers (.510 average and 11 HR as a senior in 1993) while pitching for an astounding 0.22 ERA for a career 93-7 record.
Megantron Establishes Single-Season Saves Record
Megan Faraimo recorded her sixth save of the year to secure a 2-0 victory over Utah on April 30 as well as establish a new UCLA single-season record. She passed Megan Langenfeld's mark of five set in 2008. Faraimo is now up to an NCAA-leading seven saves on the year.
Faraimo Named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year
Megan Faraimo became the fourth player in UCLA history to be awarded Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year. With the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year award first bring handed out in 1999, Faraimo joins legendary Bruin hurlers Keira Goerl (2003), Courtney Dale (1999) and Rachel Garcia (2019) to earn the honor. Faraimo is just the second player in the history of the conference to win both Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and Pitcher of the Year in a career. Rachel Garcia is the only other athlete, winning both honors in 2017 and 2019, respectively.
Five No-No's
• The Bruins are second in the nation with five no-hitters in 2022. UCLA has now thrown 5+ no-hitters in a single season eight times, last accomplishing the feat in 2002 when the Bruins twirled eight no-no's behind the arms of Keira Goerl (6) and Amanda Freed (2).
• Holly Azevedo tossed UCLA's first no-hitter of the 2022 season and the first of her career on opening night versus CSUN. Azevedo also threw UCLA's most recent no-hitter against No. 9 Arizona on March 20 in which she also established a career-high 13 strikeouts. Her performance marked UCLA's first no-hitter over a top-10 opponent (NFCA poll) since April 11, 2009, when Megan Langenfeld no-hit No. 3 Washington.
Trifecta of Perfection
Azevedo's performance against Arizona came on the heels of a week filled with perfection. The Bruins threw three perfect games within eight days from March 3-11. UCLA's three perfectos are tied for most in a single season (1982).
• Megan Faraimo tossed the first of three in a 12-0 victory (5 inn.) over Fresno State on March 3 at the Judi Garman Classic. Faraimo struck out 12 of the 15 batters she faced on the way to tossing the second perfect game of her career (first: vs. San Diego State on Feb. 24, 2021).
• Six days later, Lauren Shaw (2.0) and Faraimo (3.0) joined forces to throw the third combined perfect game in program history in a 13-0 victory (5 inn.) over Pennsylvania on March 10.
• The very next game, Faraimo struck out all 15 batters she faced in UCLA's 14-0 win over CSU Bakersfield. Faraimo needed just 59 pitches to attain perfection for the fourth time in her career (including combined) which ranks second all-time in UCLA history behind Debbie Doom's six perfectos. Faraimo opened the game with 30 consecutive strikes; her first ball came in the third inning. She allowed her hitters to make contact just seven times on foul balls.
18-Strikeout Performance
Megan Faraimo bested her 17-strikeout game against Oregon State in 2021 with 18 K's versus Tennessee at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic on Feb. 26. Faraimo threw 8.0 innings for the third time in her career to get the W.
One of One
The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach Kelly Inouye-Perez is the only coach in NCAA Division I Softball to win a NCAA Championship as both a player and coach. Inouye-Perez won titles as a player in 1989, 1990 and 1992 and twice at the helm of the program in 2010 and 2019.
700 WINS FOR THE SHELLY CARLIN UCLA HEAD SOFTBALL COACH
Kelly Inouye-Perez reached another milestone in her illustrious career at the Washington series finale on March 27 with her 700th career victory as head coach. She is the 40th active head coach to join the 700 win club and just the 10th member in that club to have a .700+ winning percentage.
Leading the Conference When it Matters
Delanie Wisz and Briana Perez ranked first and second in the Pac-12 during conference play with .469 and .395 batting averages, respectively. Wisz led the squad in Pac-12 competition with 22 RBI, seven home runs and a .542 average with runners in scoring position.
31-Game Reached Base Streak
Delanie Wisz owns the Bruins' longest reached-base streak of the season with 31 straight games from Feb. 20 to April 22. It was the fourth-longest active streak in the nation by the time it was snapped.
Getting the Job Done With RISP
The heart of UCLA's order – Briana Perez, Delanie Wisz, Maya Brady and Savannah Pola – is hitting for a .443 average (102-for-230) with runners in scoring position this season.
Garcia Announces Her Presence
Alyssa Garcia has found her groove over her last 10, hitting for a .400 batting average. Garcia is one of three Bruins this postseason to hit for a .400+ average with her .417 clip through Supers. Garcia has started 14 of UCLA's last 18 games at catcher.
Washington's Last Ride
Kinsley Washington, the hero from the 2019 National Championship with a walk-off hit to bring home natty No. 13, is having the best statistical season of her career in 2022. In her final year in Westwood, Washington ranks fourth on the team with a season-high .340 batting average and third with 11 doubles.
• Washington led UCLA in its pre-conference schedule with a .432 batting average, .511 on-base percentage and 30 runs and was second with 15 extra-base hits.
• Washington opened 2022 on a tear, establishing a new season-high of five home runs just 10 games into the season.
Winning Time for Washington
Washington brings her game to a whole other level when postseason rolls around. Of the Bruins' experienced postseason players, Washington has played 34 games and hit for a UCLA-best .392 batting average. In the 2019 postseason, Washington hit for a .455 average on the way to securing Women's College World Series All-Tournament Team Honors. None of her eight hits in Oklahoma City were more memorable than the single to score Jacqui Prober to defeat Oklahoma and win the 2019 National Championship.
Perez Brings Postseason Experience
Briana Perez has played in 36 postseason games which is most on UCLA's active roster. Perez owns a .353 batting average, five home runs and 22 RBI in career postseason play.
Freshman Phenom
Savannah Pola paces all Pac-12 freshmen and is second on the team with 15 doubles. Pola, who is the recipient of three Pac-12 Freshman of the Week awards this season, is fourth on the squad with a .349 batting average. Pola is tied with Wisz for UCLA's largest single-game RBI total with six in her 3-for-4 effort against Texas A&M on March 5. In that game, Pola racked up eight total bases with two doubles and a home run. Pola opened UCLA's pre-conference schedule (25 gms.) with a .408 batting average and team-high 16 extra-base hits.
Hot Start to Conference Play
UCLA opened its Pac-12 schedule with a program-record 10-0 start, besting its previous 9-0 mark to open the 2019 conference slate. The Bruins' swept Arizona, Washington and Oregon – all ranked with in the top 15 at the time of defeat – for its first nine wins.
Off to a Good Start
The Bruins have scored 92 of their 347 runs this season in the first inning – the most in any frame. The Bruins are 29-1 when scoring in the first. That one loss came to Northwestern at the St. Pete Clearwater Elite Invitational on Feb. 18. UCLA scored season-high 13 runs in the very first inning of the season against CSUN in the season-opener.
25-Game Winning Streak
UCLA won 25 straight games from Feb. 20 through April 9 which matched head coach Kelly Inouye-Perez's longest win streak of her career. The Bruins won 25 in a row to open the 2018 season.
Regular Season Recap
UCLA went 43-8 in the 2022 regular season with a 19-5 mark in conference play. The Bruins opened their Pac-12 schedule with a program-record 10-0 start. Following a 7-5 stretch against conference foes from April 8-May 8, the Bruins finished the regular season on a high note with a sweep of California. This is UCLA's 16th time in the past 22 seasons reaching the 40-win mark prior to postseason. The Bruins were the only team in the Pac-12 with 40 wins in the regular season.
Faraimo, Azevedo Named Top 25 Finalists for Player of the Year
Megan Faraimo and Holly Azevedo were named USA Softball 2022 College Player of the Year Top 25 Finalists on Wednesday. UCLA is the only team in the nation to boast two pitchers on the list. The Bruins are tied for second in representation amongst the top 25 finalists with fellow Pac-12 school Arizona State. Faraimo has now been named a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 Finalist in back-to-back seasons. Stacey Nuveman (2002) and Rachel Garcia (2018, 2019) are the only two Bruins to have won the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award in its 19-year history.
Schutt Sports/NFCA Freshman of the Year Finalist
Savannah Pola was named as one of the 25 student-athletes in the running for 2022 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year, the Association revealed on Thursday afternoon. Pola is UCLA's seventh honoree to make the top 25 list.
Kinsley Washington Named to Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Top 20
Kinsley Washington as named a top 20 candidate for the 2022 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar of the Year award, Diverse: Issues in Higher Education . In addition to their athletic ability, the students named 2022 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars are students of color who have maintained a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.5 and have been active on their campuses or in their communities. Washington has played a role in a bevy of community service activities during her five years in Westwood. She has volunteered with UCLA softball legend Natasha Watley and her nonprofit organization, the Natasha Watley Foundation, to help bring the sport of softball to marginalized communities.
Endowments to the UCLA Softball Program
UCLA softball alumna and 1982 NCAA Champion Shelly Carlin endowed a $1 million gift to the softball head coach position on Jan. 3, 2022. The gift is the largest ever to UCLA Athletics from a former Bruin female student-athlete. The Pledge follows UCLA's launch of the Women of Westwood initiative, which honors the 50th anniversary of Title IX by encouraging alumni, fans and friends of UCLA Athletics to help build a sustainable future for women's athletics programs. The softball head coach position will be known as the Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach.
Happy Anniversary, '82 & '92 Bruins!
2022 marks the 40th and 30th anniversaries of UCLA's 1982 and 1992 NCAA Championships.
• Having won the most NCAA softball championships, it was only fitting that the Bruins won the sport's first title under the umbrella of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in 1982. UCLA posted a 33-7-2 overall record and allowed just 18 runs for the entire season. In the postseason, the Bruins gave up just one run in seven victories to sweep through the competition. After easily dispatching of Wyoming at their home Regional, the Bruins came out on top in four straight, one-run games at the Women's College World Series, including a 1-0 victory over rival Cal State Fullerton. In the championship game, Doom struck out 12 and despite getting just one hit, the Bruins scored twice in the eighth inning to defeat Fresno State 2-0. Doom was named the Most Valuable Player of the College World Series, pitching 41.2 of the Bruins' 45 innings and striking out 62.
• After Arizona spoiled UCLA's chances of four consecutive titles in 1991, the Bruins exacted revenge the following year with a victory against their Pac-10 rival. Junior Lisa Fernandez posted a nation-best ERA of 0.14 and was undefeated on the year at 29-0. Fernandez, an All-American and the Honda Award winner in 1992, was outstanding at the plate also, hitting .401 with 29 RBI. Not to be forgotten in the circle were junior hurlers DeeDee Weiman (11-1, 0.51 ERA) and Heather Compton (14-1, 0.67 ERA), who combined for 16 shutouts and 274 strikeouts. The Bruins blew away their first four opponents in the College World Series, winning by a combined score of 29-1 and recording two mercy-rule victories. In the championship game, it was a pitcher's duel between Fernandez and Arizona's Debby Day. The duo matched zeroes on the board until the bottom of the seventh inning. Gutierrez led off the frame with a single, moved over to second on a sacrifice by Jennifer Brundage and came home on Jenny Brewster's walk-off home run to left. Fernandez, who finished the year with 65 straight scoreless innings, was named to the All-Tournament Team along with Evans, Gutierrez and Kelly Inouye.
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