Two streaks ended for Keira Goerl over the weekend.
The Bruin pitcher had thrown 11 one-hitters without recording a
no-hitter.
In Friday’s 5-0 win over No. 9 Stanford, she finally threw
a no-hitter.
Goerl had also thrown 98 consecutive innings without allowing an
earned run.
She finally allowed a run during the No. 1 Bruins’ 4-1 (8
innings) win over No. 6 Cal on Sunday.
“It got to the point where it was laughable,” coach
Sue Enquist said. “It was going to come, she’s
consistent, she’s been solid for us.”
Goerl had to pitch well on Friday, as the score was 1-0 going
into the sixth inning. The only run of the game came on a home run
by center fielder Stephanie Ramos.
But then, the Bruins offense woke up.
Claire Sua, Toria Auelua and Andrea Duran all hit home runs.
With the outcome pretty much decided, all that was left to be
determined was the no-hitter. Goerl hadn’t thrown one since
May 17, 2002.
Goerl struck out the side in the seventh inning, recording her
eighth career no-hitter.
“It feels really good, especially since it opened Pac-10
play,” Goerl said. “It kind of set the tone for where
we’re going.”
In Saturday’s 3-0 win over Cal, it was a different Bruin
pitcher’s turn to shine.
Freshman Michelle Turner threw a three-hit shutout, her second
in four starts.
“Turner’s start was huge,” Enquist said.
“She did an excellent job of hitting her spots.”
UCLA opened up its scoring in the fourth, when shortstop Natasha
Watley drew a walk with the bases loaded. Caitlin Benyi then
singled, driving in another run.
In the fifth, Sua hit another home run, her eighth of the
season.
Sunday’s game marked the Bruins’ first extra-inning
game of the year.
But UCLA nearly won in regulation.
With the score 1-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning, the
Bruins were one out away from winning. Goerl showed her human side.
With two outs and a runner on third, Courtney Scott hit a double,
forcing the game into extra innings.
UCLA’s run came in the first inning, when Tairia Mims hit
a solo home run.
In the eighth inning, Mims hit another home run, her second of
the game and twelfth of the season.
“I needed to get on somehow,” Mims said.
The Bruins got some insurance runs when Emily Zaplatosch hit a
home run after a Claire Sua single.
“It makes such a big difference that Keira doesn’t
have to be perfect,” Mims said.
The Bruins (31-2, 3-0 Pac-10) opened up the Pac-10 season with a
sweep. Their remaining 18 games will all come against Pac-10
opponents.
“I’m pleased with our consistency,” Enquist
said. “We played two excellent clubs.”