Titans Land UCLA Pitcher Tiffany Boyd

Tiffany Boyd, the softball pitcher who led Woodbridge High School to consecutive Southern Section 2-A titles and then helped UCLA to a national championship as a freshman last season, said she is transferring to Cal State Fullerton.

Boyd had a 19-2 record and the nation’s best earned-run average (0.24) last season, and pitched in three College World Series games for the Bruins, who won the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. title.

But she decided to leave UCLA in part because the Bruins recruited three freshman pitchers, which she said would dramatically affect her playing time.

Boyd and Lisa Longaker were UCLA’s top pitchers last season. Freshmen Lisa Fernandez, DeDe Weiman and Heather Compton join the staff this season.

“I was upset that there would be three new pitchers, and I would pitch only every fifth game, almost like baseball,” Boyd said. “I started thinking how I would feel playing one of every five games. I did so much my first year, it would be sad to fizzle out my next three. And I had my feelings hurt, obviously.”

Sharon Backus, UCLA’s coach, could not be reached for comment.

Boyd had planned to redshirt at UCLA this season after undergoing knee surgery last fall. Boyd said she had withdrawn from school shortly before finals last quarter after falling behind in her work because of surgery and rehabilitation. But she decided this week to transfer, and notified UCLA on Wednesday, she said.

Boyd, who can become eligible to play at Fullerton in 1991 after sitting out a season as required by NCAA regulations, will be a boost to a Fullerton staff.

Anjie Bryant, who was 25-6 with an 0.66 ERA as a sophomore last season, did not return this season after being declared academically ineligible. Ann Van Dortrecht, who was 19-8 last season, will be the Titans’ only experienced pitcher this season.

“Obviously, I am pleasantly surprised that Tiffany wants to play for the Titans,” Fullerton Coach Judi Garman said in a release. “I wanted her on our team out of high school, but much to my disappointment she chose UCLA. But to have her now is great, and for three years, really solves our pitching depth problem.”

At Woodbridge, Boyd had a 25-4 record and an 0.00 ERA in her senior season, and was selected over Valencia’s Michele Granger as The Times’ Orange County Player of the Year.