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Benyi’s Homer Helps Bruins Beat Stanford

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From Times Staff and Wire Reports

Caitlin Benyi moved up on UCLA’s all-time home-run list and helped the Bruins earn a victory in their opening game in the Women’s College World Series at Oklahoma City on Thursday.

Benyi’s three-run homer to straightaway center field capped a six-run fourth inning during UCLA’s 8-2 win over Pacific 10 Conference rival Stanford.

The defending champion Bruins (44-9) will play Louisiana State in a winners’ bracket game today at noon.

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In the tournament’s first game, LSU defeated Michigan, 3-2, in 13 innings.

Benyi, a sophomore second baseman, moved into second place on UCLA’s all-time home run list behind NCAA leader Stacey Nuveman. Benyi has 23 home runs this season and 45 in her career. Nuveman had 90 in four seasons from 1997 to 2002.

UCLA’s Keira Goerl (28-7), who pitched a no-hitter in the championship game last year, had a complete game for UCLA, giving up five hits, including a home run to Leah Nelson. Goerl had seven strikeouts.

Another Bruin who had a big day was freshman right fielder Lisa Dodd. She went three for four with a double and two RBIs. Dodd knocked in the first and last Bruin runs.

Stanford (47-18) scored its other run in the first inning on a double by Jessica Allister.

In other games:

Oklahoma 6, Washington 2 -- The Sooners (45-20-1) scored four runs in the first inning on three singles to defeat the Huskies (40-8).

California 4, Florida State 2 -- Jessica Pamanian’s two-out, two-run triple capped a three-run fourth to lead the Golden Bears (51-11) over the Seminoles (61-11). Cal pitcher Kristina Thorson gave up a two-run first-inning homer to Jessica van der Linden but struck out 12 and retired 17 in a row at one point.

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NCAA Softball World Series

At Oklahoma City

Thursday’s results

* UCLA 8, Stanford 2

* LSU 3, Michigan 2 (13 innings)

* Oklahoma 6, Washington 2

* California 4, Florida State 2

Today’s Schedule

* Game 5--LSU (55-10) vs. UCLA (44-9), noon

* Game 6--Oklahoma (44-20-1) vs. California, 4 p.m.

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