SOFTBALL / COLLEGE WORLD SERIES : Usually Star of Show, UCLA Will Be Understudy to No. 3 CS Northridge

For the first time in 12 NCAA College World Series appearances, the UCLA softball team is not the the most feared Southern California entry.

That distinction belongs to third-ranked Cal State Northridge, a team in only its fourth season of Division I competition.

Eight teams begin play today in the double-elimination tournament, which will conclude Monday.

Northridge (49-8), which swept UCLA, 2-1 and 6-1, in a double-header this season, is seeded second and will play Missouri (40-21) at 6:30 p.m.PDT.

Northridge, making its second consecutive World Series appearance, defeated Missouri in both games of a March doubleheader, 8-1 and 12-0.

The Matadors are led by senior first-team All-American pitcher Amy Windmiller (24-2), whose 0.28 earned-run average is the lowest in Division I.

Fifth-ranked UCLA (41-12), which had not lost as many as 12 games in a season since a 28-15 finish in 1986, is vying for its eighth NCAA title in 19 seasons under Coach Sharron Backus.

The Bruins will play Fresno State (48-14) at 12:30 p.m.

UCLA senior DeeDee Weiman (18-6) leads the nation with 12 strikeouts per seven innings. Weiman, who red-shirted last season, has 318 strikeouts in 185 2/3 innings.

Top-ranked Arizona (60-3), the defending champion, will face Illinois Chicago (56-17-1) in the tournament opener at 10 a.m., and Oklahoma State (43-10) will play Utah (50-11) at 4 p.m.