COLLEGE SOFTBALL WORLD SERIES : For UCLA, a Harding No-Hitter

OKLAHOMA CITY — UCLA’s Tanya Harding threw a no-hitter and faced only one batter over the minimum as the Bruins defeated Southwestern Louisiana, 3-0, in a second-round game of the Women’s College World Series in front of 2,627 at Hall of Fame Stadium.

Harding (15-1), pitching in her second game of the day, dismissed the first 13 Cajun batters before hitting Stephanie DeFeo on the leg with a pitch.

“I actually thought she stepped into it,” said Harding, who motioned Coach Sue Enquist out of the dugout to argue the call. “But who can tell? It doesn’t matter.”

It was the 12th no-hitter in the history of the series--which began in 1982--and the second of the day. Cajun junior Cheryl Longeway threw a no-hitter against Michigan in an earlier game, but gave up nine hits to the Bruins.

Second-seeded UCLA (48-6), which defeated Iowa, 2-1, on a four-hitter by Harding just hours earlier, will have today off and will face either Michigan, Iowa or Cal State Fullerton on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. PDT.

The Bruins scored two runs in the first on singles by Harding and Nicole Odom and added another in the fourth on Kathi Evans’ single, which scored Jenny Brewster.

Arizona 11, Fullerton 0--The top-ranked Wildcats (65-5) had a series-record 14 hits and rolled over Fullerton (46-16) in a second-round game that lasted only five innings because of an eight-run rule.

It was the sixth game in a row in which Arizona has defeated its opponent under the mercy rule.

Southwestern Louisiana 5, Michigan 0--Longeway threw a no-hitter against the Wolverines (50-11) in the resumption of a first-round game that was suspended Thursday because of rain.

It was the third no-hitter of the season for Longeway, who struck out eight and walked three.