COLLEGE SOFTBALL : Fernandez Fuels UCLA Past Weary Oklahoma State

A well-rested UCLA softball team exploited an overworked Oklahoma State pitcher by scoring five runs during the first three innings en route to a 5-0 victory over the Cowboys in a loser’s bracket game of the Women’s College World Series before 2,472 at Hall of Fame Stadium on Sunday night.

The top-ranked Bruins (49-4) will have to beat Southwestern Louisiana (57-6) today at 11 a.m. PDT to get to the championship game against Arizona (43-8) at 1 p.m.

Oklahoma State’s Melanie Roche (32-6), who had thrown nine innings and lost to Arizona, 1-0, in steamy heat only 40 minutes before facing UCLA, gave up six hits in the first three innings, two of which were home runs by Lisa Fernandez and Jennifer Brewster.

On Saturday, Oklahoma State (50-8) sent UCLA--winner of seven national titles, including four of the past five--to the loser’s bracket with a 1-0 victory in 13 innings. Roche, a senior All-American, gave up only five hits during that game. Fernandez (32-2) pitched a four-hitter and struck out eight.

“It was nice to come back and turn the tables (on Oklahoma State),” UCLA Coach Sharron Backus said. “Fortunately for us, I think Oklahoma State had a long day.”

Oklahoma State Coach Sandy Fischer agreed, saying, “It’s a chore to play back-to-back with this kind of intensity.” like the

Arizona 1, Oklahoma State 0--Jody Pruitt had a run-scoring double in the bottom of the ninth.

Southwestern Louisiana 1, Arizona 0--Vanessa Avant’s line-drive single to left scored Heather Neville during the fifth inning.

Southwestern Louisiana 1, Connecticut 0--The Ragin’ Cajuns scored on Alyson Habetz’s RBI double during the fifth inning.