University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA Official Athletic Site - Softball
 RBI double was the difference in UCLA's semifinal win over DePaul. |
UCLA takes on Washington in Monday's title game.
May 30, 1999
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - The top-ranked UCLA softball team, courtesy of a fifth-inning solo home run by Courtney Dale and an RBI double in the bottom of the eighth by Stacey Nuveman, defeated No. 8 seed DePaul 2-1 Sunday, to advance to the championship game of the 1999 Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla. With the victory, the seven-time NCAA Champion Bruins improve to 62-6 on the year and will be making their 12th appearance in the title game of the College World Series. The final will be an all-Pac-10 affair, as UCLA will take on No. 3 seed Washington in the Monday's championship game. The Huskies advanced Sunday with a 3-0 victory over No. 7 seed Cal. Monday's title game can be seen live on ESPN 2 at Noon (CST.) and heard live on the internet at www.broadcast.com.
UCLA, which defeated DePaul 3-2 in Thursday's opening game of the tournament, was forced to come from behind as the Blue Demons took a 1-0 lead on a double steal in the top of the second. With runners at first and third, Katy Carter attempted to steal second, forcing a throw by Bruin catcher Stacey Nuveman. The play enabled pinch runner Molly Sircher to score from third, before Carter was caught in a run down to end the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, Dale brought the Bruins back, blasting a solo shot off Blue Demon pitcher Nicole Terpstra to tie the game at 1-1. The score remained tied until the bottom of the eighth. Then, with one out on nobody on, Lyndsey Klein reached first on a fielding error by DePaul third baseman Julie Luna. Nuveman, the Bruins next batter, hit a hard ball in the gap to left center, scoring Klein all the way from first to end the game and give UCLA the 3-2 victory. Nuveman, who was hitless in the College World Series entering Sunday's contest, was 2-for-4 on the afternoon, with that RBI double. Bruin third baseman Julie Adams, who suffered a dislocated shoulder in Thursday's game with DePaul, also had two hits on the afternoon, as she finished 2-for-3.
UCLA pitcher Amanda Freed allowed just four hits including and an unearned run, as she improved to 27-4 on the season. She also added six strikeouts.
The Bruins are 7-4 all time in the Championship game of the College World Series. UCLA and Washington have never met in the title game, however UCLA owns a 2-1 advantage over the Huskies in CWS action.
Head Coach Sue Enquist:
"I am just so pleased that we were able to get it done today. It
wasn't pretty, but at this time of year you hope that your
student-athletes can dig deep. Amanda Freed was the backbone for us
today by keeping DePaul off balance and making excellent plays. It
does a lot for us to see that we can come from behind and we have new
heroes each game."
On DePaul:
"I can't say enough about them and I think they are sending a message
to other parts of the country. They are not a fluke, they are a class
act and great role models. You never knew what the score was when you
were playing them. I hope that their exposure here this year helps
their program gain support."
On the game's final Play:
"They play so deep and Lyndsey Klein is one of the quickest girls on
the team. There was no doubt that she was going to score and it was
their (DePaul's) play to make."
UCLA Sophomore Courtney Dale
On her home run:
"It was a pitch that was in the inside middle of the plate. I wanted
to start things off right for the team during the beginning of the
inning. I just tried to hit the ball hard."
UCLA Sophomore Stacey Nuveman
On her RBI double to win the game:
"Obviously when you come to the World Series you want to get the job
done. I focused on relaxing and on my ability. I took the pressure
off myself."