UCLA Reaches Title Series

UCLA advanced to the Women’s College World Series on Sunday night, scoring all its runs against Texas starter Meagan Denny in the first inning and defeating the Longhorns, 3-0.

Two-time defending champion UCLA (39-18) will face either Michigan or Tennessee in the best-of-three title series.

The Bruins scored their runs on two hits and an error before Texas, which eliminated Arizona, 1-0, earlier Sunday, replaced Denny (10-3) with ace Cat Osterman.

Jodi Legaspi’s single scored UCLA’s first run, then an error by Texas shortstop Desiree Williams made it 2-0 and Krista Colburn’s single to right gave the Bruins a three-run lead.

“I’m proud of how we saw the situation when we came into this game, and we capitalized on our opportunities,” UCLA Coach Sue Enquist said. “... I tip my cap to the University of Texas. They’re a tremendous team. We’re just very fortunate that we were able to capitalize early, and that was enough for us.”

Osterman came on to get Lisa Dodd to bounce into a fielder’s choice to end the inning. Osterman then retired 15 batters in order, not giving up any hits and striking out six.

Texas Coach Connie Clark said she did not regret not starting Osterman, who had pitched 11 innings earlier in the day in eliminating Arizona.

“It’s disappointing, but hindsight 20-20, we recruited Meagan Denny to be in the position to help us and not have it be just where we ride Cat,” Clark said. “I think she’s capable of it -- if we did it again tomorrow I would do the same thing. We just didn’t quite get the outcome we wanted.”

Osterman said she talked to Clark before the game and was in agreement with the decision to start Denny.

“Meagan’s fresh and Meagan has had decent outings as of late, so I thought it was a good decision as well,” Osterman said. “I told her I would be ready whenever she called on me. I didn’t think I would go out there as strong as I did today in the last game, but I just gutted it out.”

UCLA freshman Anjelica Selden (28-12) won her third consecutive complete game and gave up only two hits, both in the first inning when Texas got runners to second and third but couldn’t capitalize. She finished with 12 strikeouts.

Texas also got runners to second and third in the sixth inning, but Selden struck out two to end the inning.

Tennessee forced another game with Michigan late Sunday by beating the Wolverines, 2-0, on Tonya Callahan’s two-run home run in the bottom of the 11th innning.

Michigan (62-6) vs. Tennessee (67-14) play today at 10 a.m. PDT.