COLLEGE SOFTBALL : Fernandez Wins Duel With Granger

Lisa Fernandez of UCLA and Michele Granger of California have dominated college softball for the past four years. The senior pitchers met for one of the final times in their collegiate careers Saturday in a doubleheader at UCLA.

Fernandez and Granger squared off in the first game, which UCLA won, 1-0, in 11 innings. The Bruins also won the second game, 5-0.

UCLA (28-3), the defending national champion, is top-ranked in the current poll. Cal (29-11) is ninth.

Fernandez (15-1) had a career-high 19 strikeouts and gave up four hits to earn the victory in the first game. It was her 12th shutout of the season.

Granger (22-7) had seven strikeouts and gave up four hits in the loss. Cal threatened several times but stranded 10 runners.

Beginning in the 10th inning, under the international tiebreaking rule, runners were placed on second base as each team began its half of the inning.

UCLA won when Kelly Inouye drove in Joanne Alchin from third base on a squeeze bunt. Alchin had been placed on second base to lead off for UCLA and had advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jennifer Brundage.

“They are both from the school of hard knocks,” UCLA Coach Sharron Backus said of Fernandez and Granger. “They know what it takes to win and they are willing to pay the price to get there.”

Fernandez, two-time winner of the Honda Award, is considered the best-all around player while Granger is considered the premier pitcher.

Fernandez, who also plays third base, is third in the nation in batting average (.543), earned-run average (0.38 in 111 innings) and strikeouts per game (10.19).

Fernandez also holds the NCAA record for career winning percentage, .938, as well as the NCAA record for consecutive victories, 42.

Fernandez and Granger played together to lead the United States to the gold medal at the 1991 Pan American Games in Cuba.

But when they are facing each other, friendship is put aside.

“When you face Michele you just know you have to scratch for every run,” Fernandez said. “You’re in for a dogfight. Every time you go out there, you know she wants to strike you out. Off the field is off the field, but once you’re on, she has to do her job and I have to do mine.”