Sua, Freed Key UCLA’s Victory

Claire Sua’s bases-loaded single in the sixth inning scored the only runs, giving UCLA a 2-0 victory over Iowa on Thursday night in the opening round of the College World Series at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.

Sua came to bat after Iowa (49-13) intentionally walked Stacey Nuveman to load the bases with one out.

The inning began with a one-out double by Stephanie Ramos. Tairia Mims followed with a single, putting runners at first and third for Nuveman.

UCLA (60-5) had three of its five hits in the sixth inning.

Iowa pitcher Kristi Hanks (19-9) held the Bruins without a hit for the first 3 2/3 innings. She struck out three.

UCLA’s Amanda Freed (20-3) earned the victory, giving up four hits and striking out five. She also did not give up a hit until the fourth inning.

Stanford 2, Louisiana State 1--Jessica Mendoza’s run-scoring double in the eighth inning gave the Cardinal (53-14-1) the victory over the Tigers (57-10).

Sarah Beeson’s 12th homer gave the Cardinal (53-14-1) a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning. LSU (57-10) tied the score in the bottom of the inning.

Ramona Shelburne reached base on an error in the eighth and scored on Mendoza’s line drive to right-center off LSU’s Britni Sneed (35-6).

Stanford’s Dana Sorenson (26-4) worked around a two-out walk in the bottom of the eighth for the victory.

Arizona 3, California 2--Toni Mascarenas hit a three-run homer, her 23rd, with two outs in the sixth inning to lead the Wildcats (62-4) past the Golden Bears (53-17).

Cal made it close in the top of the seventh when Veronica Nelson hit a two-run homer off Jennie Finch (30-0). Finch walked the next batter, but got out of the jam with two ground ball outs and a strikeout.

Finch, who was 3-0 this season against California, struck out 10 to keep her record perfect. She has won her last 38 decisions dating to a loss April 21, 2000, at Arizona State.

Oklahoma 2, Michigan 0--Jennifer Stewart (37-3) threw a two-hitter for the Sooners (50-7), who won their 23rd consecutive game.

The Sooners scored one run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly, then got consecutive two-out singles from Christy Ring, Lisa Carey and Ashli Barrett to score in the sixth against Michigan (43-16-1).

The starting pitchers--Stewart and Michigan’s Marie Barda--held off the batters through the first three innings.

Stewart started slow, throwing nine balls and 10 strikes in the first inning alone. But as the game progressed, the junior threw only 16 balls compared to 50 strikes in the final six innings.

Stewart improved to 37-3 in a victory without a single strikeout. She gave up only three hits as Michigan batters grounded out 12 times and flew or popped out the other nine times.

Barda (20-8) was credited with the loss after giving up five hits. She struck out five and walked two.

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NCAA Softball World Series

At Don Porter Hall of Fame Stadium, Oklahoma City (All Times Pacific):

THURSDAY’S RESULTS

Game 1--No. 1 Arizona 3, No. 8 California 2

Game 2--No. 5 Oklahoma 2, No. 4 Michigan 0

Game 3--No. 6 Stanford 2, No. 3 Louisiana State 1 (8 innings)

Game 4--No. 2 UCLA 2, No. 7 Iowa 0

TODAY’S GAMES

Game 5--Arizona vs. Oklahoma, 4 p.m.

Game 6--Stanford vs. UCLA, 6:30 p.m.

Note: Tournament is a double-elimination format except for championship game Monday at 10 a.m., ESPN.