NCAA Softball : UCLA Rallies to Beat Fresno State, 6-1

Scoring five runs with two out in the seventh inning, No. 1 UCLA defeated No. 2 Fresno State, 6-1, Friday in the opening round of winners-bracket play in the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. Softball Championship at Sunnyvale, Calif.

UCLA’s Missy Phillips and Bea Chiaravanont each hit two-run home runs off Fresno’s Melanie Parrent in the seventh. In that inning, Fresno State also had three of its seven errors, an NCAA tournament record.

With two out in the seventh, UCLA’s Janice Parks grounded to second, but second baseman Kathy Mayer misplayed the ball, which rolled into center field. Shanna Flynn, who had led off with a bunt and been sacrificed to second, scored to give UCLA a 2-1 lead.

Parrent then gave up three consecutive hits, including the home runs.

Gena Strang’s second-inning home run gave Fresno a 1-0 lead. The three home runs in the game also set an NCAA finals’ tournament record.

The Bruins will face Arizona today at 3 p.m. Fresno will play Nebraska today at 11 a.m.

Earlier Friday, Nebraska eliminated Adelphi from the tournament, 5-1, in losers bracket competition. Texas A&M; eliminated Northern Illinois, 3-0.

Cal Poly Pomona lost to Arizona, 4-1, scoring its only run in the first inning on Candi Burke’s RBI single to center.

Texas A&M; will face Cal Poly Pomona today at 1 p.m.