UCLA Handles Stanford

Claire Sua and Toria Auelua homered in a five-run fourth inning and the UCLA softball team did all its damage with one trip through its lineup as the Bruins defeated Stanford, 5-0, in the Women’s College World Series at Oklahoma City on Friday.

Second-seeded UCLA (61-5), which shut out Iowa, 2-0, in its first game Thursday, advanced to Sunday’s semifinals.

The sixth-seeded Cardinal (53-15-1) will play an elimination game today against either California or Michigan.

UCLA’s big inning began when Tairia Mims led off with a double down the right-field line. Amanda Simpson ran for Mims and later scored ahead of another pinch runner, Julie Hoshizaki, when Sua belted her 10th home run of the season to right field off losing pitcher Dana Sorensen (26-5) for a 3-0 lead.

One out later, Amanda Freed singled to left and came home when the next batter, Auelua, homered to left, knocking Sorensen from the game. It was Auelua’s second homer of the season.

That was more than enough for UCLA pitchers Keira Goerl and Courtney Dale, who combined on a three-hitter. Goerl (27-2), a freshman, pitched five shutout innings, gave up three singles and struck out five before giving way to Dale, who pitched two hitless innings to wrap it up for the Bruins.

It is the third time this season that Goerl has defeated the Cardinal. She has given up only five hits in 14 innings against Stanford.

UCLA had six hits, including two by leadoff hitter Natasha Watley. Stacey Nuveman, one of the nation’s most feared hitters, walked three times, including twice intentionally.

Arizona 5, Oklahoma 4--Nicole Giordano scored on a two-out throwing error in the top of the eighth inning and the top-seeded Wildcats defeated the Sooners in a winner’s bracket game.

The Wildcats (63-4), who advanced to Sunday’s semifinals, rallied from a 4-0 deficit.

Fifth-seeded Oklahoma (50-8) loaded the bases with two out in the bottom of the inning, but Jennie Finch (31-0) got LaKisha Washington to ground out.

Jennifer Stump of Oklahoma and Toni Mascarenas of Arizona each hit three-run homers.

Oklahoma plays today against the winner of an earlier game between Louisiana State and Iowa.