Monday, 4/21/97 UCLA takes 2 step forward, two back on Arizona
road trip Softball: Bruins sweep two from Sun Devils after losing
double header to Wildcats
By Melissa Anderson Daily Bruin Staff For the first time in
nearly a month, the UCLA softball team was at full strength.
Unfortunately, even the return of Julie Adams and Christie Ambrosi
wasn’t enough to get the third-ranked Bruins past No. 2 Arizona on
Friday. The Wildcats (40-4, 14-1 Pac-10) were overpowering in the
first game of their 11-0, 10-6 doubleheader sweep of UCLA, racking
up 12 hits in five innings off Bruin pitcher Christa Williams.
Arizona took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning and then got
three more in the third. After a four-run fourth inning, the
Wildcats, who now own a 3 1/2 game lead over the Bruins in the
conference, got three more in the fifth before the game was called
due to the 10-run mercy rule. Arizona catcher Leah Braatz hit her
14th home run of the season, tying teammate Lety Pineda and UCLA’s
Stacey Nuveman for the Pac-10 lead, while shortstop Lisa Pitt hit
her fifth long ball of the year. The loss was Williams’ first in 10
decisions, ending a streak which included a win over Arizona last
month at Easton Stadium. Wildcat pitcher Nancy Evans blanked the
Bruins for five innings, allowing just two hits and striking out
two en route to her 22nd win of the season. B’Ann Burns is no
stranger to Hillenbrand Stadium, and though the senior pitcher
recorded UCLA’s last victory there in 1995, she was unable to shut
down the Wildcats on Friday, allowing 11 hits and eight runs in 5
1/3 innings pitched. Freshman Courtney Dale gave up two runs on two
hits in two-thirds innings pitched. The Bruins did get some
offensive help in the nightcap in the form of Alleah Poulson’s
3-for-4 outing, including her third home run of the year, as well
as a two-run dinger from Adams, playing for the first time since
injuring her shoulder. In fact, the two helped UCLA take a 6-3 lead
into the bottom of the fifth, but the Wildcats came back with four
runs in that inning and three more in the sixth, stifling any hope
the Bruins had of leaving Tucson with a split. Evans picked up the
win for Arizona with three innings of work, taking over for Carrie
Dolan in the fifth inning. * * * The Bruins didn’t leave the state
empty-handed, however. UCLA (34-10, 14-6) ended its trip to the
desert Sunday afternoon in Tempe, sweeping past No. 6 Arizona
State, 2-0, 8-6 at Sun Devil Club Stadium. Burns blanked the Devils
(30-14, 8-10) in the opener, striking out six and giving up just
four hits in seven innings. Ambrosi and Nuveman were both 2 for 3
in the opener and Julie Marshall hit her sixth home run of the
year. Dale had the game’s other RBI with a double to drive in pinch
runner Nikki Barbieri. Williams struck out seven despite giving up
seven hits and six runs in seven innings. Ambrosi racked up two
more hits and scored two runs in the leadoff spot while Adams added
her sixth home run of the year.