Arizona scores once, robbing UCLA again
By Daily Bruin Staff
May 28, 2001 9:00 p.m.
 The Associated Press Arizona’s Lauren
Bauer slides safely into second, as UCLA second baseman
Monique Mejia scrambles for the ball during the
championship game of the Women’s College World Series. NCAA
Title Game Arizona 1 UCLA 0
By Vytas Mazeika
Daily Bruin Reporter
OKLAHOMA CITY “”mdash; There’s something about Arizona.
When Jennie Finch struck out Toria Auelua to end the
Women’s College World Series title game, the Wildcats erupted
as they laid claim to their sixth national crown and first since
1997.
UCLA’s players were relegated to spectators along with the
4,459 in attendance at Oklahoma City’s Don E. Porter Stadium
as the emotions of Monday afternoon’s 1-0 loss sank in. For
the fourth time in five title games against the Wildcats (65-4),
the Bruins (62-6) found themselves on the losing end.
“My highlight of the weekend was just sitting on the
dugout and watching them celebrate because as a coach that’s
probably the neatest thing that you’ll ever be able to
witness,” Arizona Head Coach Mike Candrea said. “It was
a great moment.”
Finch, the Wildcats’ junior ace, allowed only four hits
and struck out two against the Bruins en route to being named the
WCWS Most Outstanding Player. Finch (32-0) didn’t have her
best day on the mound, but she was able to remain effective in the
circle by moving the ball inside and out while hitting her
spots.
Amanda Freed (21-4), the Bruins’ own junior ace, let one
pitch get away and that was the difference. With the pressure
mounting in the fourth inning, Finch led off with a deep line drive
to center field that UCLA freshman outfielder Stephanie Ramos
tracked down, saving a home run.
The next hitter, Arizona’s Lindsey Collins, did what Finch
couldn’t do, driving the ball over the right field fence.
Freed threw a curveball that hung up over the plate and the damage
had been done.
Three innings later, the Wildcats made it official.
“It’s hit us, but I don’t think it will hit
anybody really good until tomorrow when we wake up,” Arizona
third baseman Toni Mascarenas said.
 The Associated Press UCLA players watch as the Arizona
Wildcats celebrate their victory over UCLA, 1-0. “It’s
just the perfect ending to the perfect season,” Finch added.
“(The eight seniors) going out on the top is what we wanted
all year long.”
Since the 1993 title game, UCLA is 8-28 in games against
Arizona. In the WCWS the Bruins allowed only one run, committed
only one error and made only one base-running mistake ““ all
against the Wildcats in the title game.
In both the third and fifth innings, UCLA got the leadoff runner
on base. But in each of those innings, the runners remained on
first base with two outs after four failed bunt attempts. Ramos hit
a grounder to end the third inning and sophomore second baseman
Monique Mejia had a base-running blunder that ended the fifth
inning.
“We came out here knowing that we had be disciplined in
getting the little things done, and when they cracked the door, we
had to capitalize,” UCLA Coach Sue Enquist said. “We
didn’t, they did; they got the big hack and here we sit with
a 1-0 ballgame.”
Throughout the season, Arizona survived a barrage of one-run
games. In the WCWS, that experience proved vital as the Wildcats
won all of their games by one run, including a pair of 1-0
victories in their final two games en route to the title.
“It’s a game of few runs,” said UCLA junior
catcher Stacey Nuveman, who had a disappointing WCWS as teams
pitched around her, leaving her 0 for 5 at the plate with a
tournament-high nine walks. “But I think that’s what we
love about it. The pressure is on every pitch, and every swing can
make a difference.”
The last great offensive opportunity for the Bruins came in the
sixth inning. With no outs, shortstop Natasha Watley reached first
base on a single and advanced to second on Finch’s throwing
error. But Ramos promptly flied out to left and sophomore third
baseman Tairia Mims fouled out to third.
Nuveman was then intentionally walked, and freshman designated
player Claire Sua, who was leading the Bruins with six RBIs in the
WCWS, swung at Finch’s first pitch and hit a high fly ball to
shallow left field that was easily handled by the Wildcats.
“I really got the feeling that at any point we were going
to bust out and get it done,” Enquist said. “I felt so
good about it, but it didn’t happen.”
For UCLA there is always next year but right now, nothing can
take the sting away from another championship lost to Arizona.
