Gutierrez Powers UCLA Past Utah, 7-2

Yvonne Gutierrez hit a tiebreaking, three-run home run in the 10th inning to lead UCLA to a 7-2 victory over Utah on Saturday at UCLA, giving the Bruins one of eight regional championships in the NCAA Division I women’s softball tournament.

The top-seeded Bruins (49-2) swept two games in the best-of-three series against No. 20 Utah (25-20). UCLA defeated Utah, 1-0, on Friday. The Bruins advance to the national tournament, May 21-24, at Oklahoma City.

With the score tied, 2-2, Gutierrez hit a two-out home run over the center-field fence, scoring Kelly Inouye and Lisa Fernandez. It was Gutierrez’s eighth home run of the season and sparked a five-run inning.

UCLA starter DeDe Weiman (11-1) struck out six, walked two and gave up two earned runs on three hits in four innings before Heather Compton came on in relief. Compton struck out five, gave up three hits and walked one before being replaced by Fernandez.

In another regional:

--Third-seeded Fresno State (50-14) defeated ninth-seeded Cal State Northridge, 6-0, to win the best-of-three series in two games at Fresno State and advance to the national tournament.