Bruins Win, Will Play Huskies in Semifinals

UCLA advanced to today’s semifinals of the NCAA Division I Softball World Series by scoring three unearned runs in the fifth inning to eliminate Southwest Louisiana, 3-2, Saturday night.

It was the second consecutive year that the Cajuns were ousted by the Bruins.

UCLA (47-10) plays No. 1-seeded Washington (58-8) at 9 a.m. (PDT) in one semifinal game.

Iowa took advantage of four hits and an error to score three runs in the fourth inning and defeat Big Ten rival Michigan, 3-2, in another elimination game.

Iowa (49-18) then defeated California, 1-0, and will play Arizona (56-9) today in the other semifinal.

Southwest Louisiana had advanced earlier Saturday by knocking out Princeton, 7-0, in an elimination game as Cheryl Longeway pitched a two-hit shutout and Stephanie DeFeo and Kelli Bruce each drove in two runs.

Longeway pitched the entire game against UCLA, giving up six hits, striking out seven and not giving up an earned run.

The Bruins were able to push across three runs in the fifth inning thanks to three hits and two errors.

“My players left their hearts out on that field,” Southwest Louisiana Coach Yvette Girouard said. “If we make just one play in that fifth inning, we finally beat UCLA and move on. I thought we could have won, but we came up a little short.”

Southwest Louisiana jumped on UCLA starter B’Ann Burns for a run in the top of the first inning on two hits and a run-scoring grounder by Lori Osterberg.

In the fifth, UCLA rallied and took the lead.

Nicole Odom led off with a single and took third on an error by second baseman Hilda Alfaro, who misplayed Christie Ambrosi’s sacrifice bunt. Julie Marshall then hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Odom. Kelly Howard followed with a single and Ginny Mike-Mitchell reached on shortstop Osterberg’s error, loading the bases. Julie Adams followed with a two-run single.

Southwest Louisiana (46-10) added a run in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly.

Tasha Reents started Iowa’s winning rally by reaching on an error by Michigan third baseman Tracy Carr. Reents stole second and scored on a double by Tammy Utley.

Lyn Nance singled before pinch-hitter Melissa Young’s run-scoring single to center scored Utley. Lea Twigg singled home Sarah Hoel, who had pinch-run for Nance, giving the Hawkeyes took a 3-0 lead.