By Michael Sneag
Daily Bruin Contributor
msneag@media.ucla.edu
Even Ryan Nuveman couldn’t hide the nervous energy in his
voice. The radio broadcaster for uclabruins.com and older brother
of senior Stacey Nuveman tried to remain calm, but as the
excitement built, it was almost impossible.
The UCLA softball team was fighting for an opportunity to get
into the Women’s College World Series, and for some reason,
they seemed very intent on making it as hard as they could on
themselves.
A leaping catch by senior left fielder Erin Rahn stranded the
tying run at second for the final out of the game. It gave the
Bruins a 1-0 win against a tough South Carolina team that was aided
by a cheering, partisan crowd.
Keira Goerl, who was named the tournament’s Most
Outstanding Player, once again pitched a gem but gave credit to her
defense for the win.
“I’m confident in the team and I knew Rahn would get
it (the final out) because she’s quick,” Goerl
said.
After winning their first two games quite easily, including a
10-0 five-inning mercy rule game against Eastern Kentucky that
featured a no-hitter by Goerl, the Bruins were forced to eke out
their last two victories.
Saturday, junior Tairia Mims broke a 1-1 tie against Georgia in
the bottom of the eighth with an opposite field shot over the right
field wall to put the Bruins into the final against the winner of
Georgia and South Carolina. The game was delayed more than five
hours by heavy thunderstorms which left the field a muddy
swamp.
Sunday, UCLA (54-7) almost had it won earlier in the day but
allowed two runs in the bottom of the seventh to give the host
Gamecocks a second opportunity.
Up until the bottom of the seventh, senior Amanda Freed had not
given up a run and had only allowed three hits. However, aided
by a throwing error and a passed ball, South Carolina was able to
fight back and force a second and deciding game with a 2-1 upset of
top-ranked UCLA.
In the winner-take-all game, the Bruins got on the board early
with a lead-off walk by Natasha Watley in the first inning. She
advanced to third on two wild pitches before Mims once again came
up with a clutch double.
The run would prove to be decisive as both Goerl and South
Carolina pitcher, Aleca Johnson, were able to contain the offenses
and only allow five hits between them.
“I’m proud of the way we bounced back after that
first game,” UCLA head coach Sue Enquist said.
“It’s pretty tricky emotionally to recover in such a
short time and I felt like we did that. We weren’t real
impressive either offensively or defensively, but when we had to
get it done, we got it done.”
The Bruins, who were forced to travel to Columbia, S.C., also
had to deal with the tough weather conditions. Experience was
definitely a factor in coping with all the distractions, and the
Bruins took full advantage.
Goerl topped the list of Bruins honored at the tournament, but
seniors Nuveman and Freed, along with juniors Watley and Mims also
made the All-Tournament Team.
UCLA now moves on to the WCWS in Oklahoma City where it will
face the winners of the seven other regions in a similar double
elimination tournament format.
Just hope Ryan Nuveman can survive the excitement.