Home runs get softball to the home stretch

Tuesday, May 21, 1996

Softball headed to World Series by virtue of longballs

By Brent Boyd

Daily Bruin Contributor

With the College World Series approaching, the Bruin softball
team has picked an opportune time to start hitting the
longball.

All season long, the Achilles’ heel of the fourth-ranked team in
the nation has been leaving too many runners on base. In fact, it
almost kept them out of the World Series.

In an opening-round loss to Cal State Fullerton in the NCAA
regionals, UCLA stranded 13 runners. Unable to change the pattern,
the Bruins stranded the same number in their next game versus
Southwest Missouri State, but this time were able to avoid the bad
luck that accompanied the number with an 8-2 win.

Another nine runners stranded against Cal State Northridge put
the Bruins on the brink of elimination, but they were able to stave
off a Matador comeback attempt, and advance to the regional
championship.

That’s when UCLA decided to change the trend. Needing two
victories over the Titans to advance to the World Series, the
Bruins took no chances in making the game close. Four home runs
brought in a total of 13 runs in UCLA’s 14-1 victory. Of the 19
runners that reached base, only five failed to come around and
score.

Leading the attack was freshman third baseman Julie Adams, who
was 4-for-4 with two homers and six RBIs. An additional three-run
shot by Alleah Poulson and a grand slam from Christie Ambrosi also
helped spark the Bruins. The four home runs were the most in a game
for UCLA thus far into the season, and equaled the total of their
previous 12 contests.

* * *

After sitting out two weeks in a row, junior shortstop Nicole
Odom made a successful return to the starting lineup for the
regionals. Although she hit just 4-for-17 during the five-game
tournament, her success in the infield was impressive ­ she
made just one error in 29 chances.

"Her performance was just a testimony for Odom’s athleticism,"
UCLA co-head coach Sue Enquist said. "Good athletes can be off and
come back very quickly. Odom did that."

With the pain in her shoulder gone, Odom will be able to compete
in the World Series, starting Thursday.

* * *

Odom, along with four teammates, was honored by earning a spot
on the All-Pacific Region team. Odom, Adams and Poulson were
selected to the second team, while senior Ginny Mike-Mitchell, and
pitching ace B’Ann Burns were placed on the first team.

* * *

The loss to Fullerton in the opening round represented only the
third regional loss in the history of the UCLA softball program.
The Bruins are now 33-3 in regional play.

In addition, UCLA is 58-14 in World Series action, winning the
championship in eight of their 13 appearances.

The Bruins were given the third seed in the eight-team World
Series and face an opening-round matchup with Michigan, ranked
seventh nationally. Pac-10 teams are featured in every other
matchup, and form half of the entire field. Arizona takes on Iowa
in the other matchup on the Bruins’ side of the bracket, while
Washington plays Princeton and California battles Southwestern
Louisiana.

PATRICK LAM/Daily Bruin

Christie Ambrosi hit a grand slam in the regional final
game.