Monday, 5/19/97 World Series hopes saved at last minute
SOFTBALL: Bruins come back after disappointing loss to defeat Lady
Cajuns
By Melissa Anderson Daily Bruin Staff There was no way they were
going to let this one get away. The UCLA softball team came within
one game of seeing its College World Series hopes dashed last
weekend after losing to Southwestern Louisiana in Saturday’s
semifinals and falling into the losers bracket for the remainder of
the weekend. But the Bruins came back with a vengeance Sunday to
defeat the Lady Cajuns 9-0, 3-0, winning the Regional and advancing
to the CWS. Sunday’s opener at Lady Cajun Park was all UCLA as the
Bruins got on the board in the top of the second and never gave USL
a chance to get back in it. The host Lady Cajuns were held to just
two hits by freshman ace Christa Williams while the Bruins exploded
for 11 hits, including two home runs by Stacey Nuveman. Nuveman’s
first longball – a two-run shot to center field – came in the third
inning and gave UCLA a 3-0 lead. In the top of the fourth,
Lady-Cajun pitcher Jennifer Clendenin (who defeated UCLA on
Saturday) was replaced by Kim Dunlap. The pitching change did
nothing for USL, however, as the Bruins got three more in that
inning. UCLA put the game away in the fifth as Nuveman led off with
a homer to right, her 19th of the season. Nicole Ochoa later
doubled to score Julie Marshall and Courtney Dale, giving the
Bruins a five-inning victory and another breath. It was all or
nothing in the nightcap as only the winner would advance to
Oklahoma City, and like they have so many times this season, the
Bruins showed grace under fire. Again the Bruins jumped to an early
lead over the Lady Cajuns when Marshall homered to center and Ochoa
singled to drive in Dale from second base. B’Ann Burns started in
the circle for UCLA but was relieved by Williams in the fifth
inning. Burns was credited for the win, however, as the Bruins got
and insurance run in the fifth on Alleah Poulson’s sacrifice bunt.
UCLA opened regional play with a 3-0 win over Nicholls State. Burns
recorded her 94th victory in a Bruin uniform, breaking the career
victory record set by Lisa Fernandez. Burns now holds three UCLA
career pitching records (appearances, innings pitched, wins). "I am
just pleased to get the win," Burns said after the game. "A lot of
pitches didn’t work for me tonight, but I’ll just go back and work
on them." Things didn’t go as smoothly Saturday as the Bruins
couldn’t capitalize off eight hits in their 4-1 loss to USL.
Williams struck out 10 but gave up all four runs in the fifth
inning as the third-seeded Lady Cajuns moved into the winners
bracket, setting up Sunday’s showdown in the finals. The Bruins
rebounded later that afternoon with a 3-0 win over Northeast
Louisiana. Dale hit her third home run over the left field wall
while Burns went all seven innings for the win. * * * Five Bruins
were named to the All-Regional Tournament team, including Most
Outstanding player Stacey Nuveman. With two home runs on Sunday,
the catcher needs just one more to tie the career mark for homers.
Julie Adams, Christie Ambrosi, B’Ann Burns and Courtney Dale were
also honored. UCLA Sports Info B’Ann Burns Previous Daily Bruin
stories: Bruins’ championship campaigns runs through bayou, May 16,
1997