Saturday, May 10, 2025

AdvertiseDonateSubmit
NewsSportsArtsOpinionThe QuadPhotoVideoIllustrationsCartoonsGraphicsThe StackPRIMEEnterpriseInteractivesPodcastsGamesClassifiedsPrint issues

IN THE NEWS:

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2025,2025 Undergraduate Students Association Council elections

Win over Texas dramatic peak of title run

By Bob Costa

May 27, 2003 9:00 p.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY “”mdash; Capturing the NCAA softball championship
with a 1-0, nine-inning victory over Cal had to be exciting for
UCLA.

Then again, heart-stopping moments were the norm for the Bruins
in this title run ““ none more dramatic than their semifinal
win over Texas on Saturday night.

With one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, UCLA found
itself down 1-0 with Cat Osterman, the USA Softball Player of the
Year, in the circle. It looked like the 2003 senior class would be
the first not to win a national championship.

The UCLA offense came alive.

The Bruins received clutch hits from senior Natasha Watley and
freshman Caitlin Benyi as they climbed from the depths of defeat to
beat the Longhorns 2-1 on their way to the program’s ninth
national championship.

“I’m just thrilled. That win just says so much about
this team and its ability to never give up,” UCLA head coach
Sue Enquist said. “That has been what they have represented
all year, and everybody got to see what Bruin softball is truly all
about.”

The rally started with one out when senior second baseman
Monique Mejia hit a ball to the left of Texas third baseman Wynter
Turner that Turner could not glove, allowing Mejia to reach first
base on an infield hit.

Next up was the No. 9 hitter, freshman left fielder Andrea
Duran, who laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to advance Mejia to
second base.

With two outs, first base open and All-American shortstop Watley
up, Texas coach Connie Clark made the surprising decisions not to
walk intentionally Watley and pitch to Benyi, who had struck out
three times in three at-bats against Osterman.

“It never crossed my mind. We didn’t want to put the
winning run on for free, and after seeing her earlier today, we
felt like Cat could go right at her.” Clark said.

Cat did go right at her, and Watley hit a ball right back up the
middle that eluded Texas shortstop Chez Sievers. Mejia beat the
throw home to tie the game, and Watley moved to second base on the
throw.

Benyi, the UCLA right fielder, had the chance to put UCLA in the
championship game and lined her second pitch from Osterman into
right field.

“I was just looking to put the ball in play, especially
with Natasha on base. Anything that would make her run her the
bases because that’s what we like to see,” Benyi
said.

Texas right fielder Sarah Wieszczak double-pumped and threw to
home, and Watley slid around catcher Marlo Hanks to score the
winning run and complete the improbable comeback.

Share this story:FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Bob Costa
COMMENTS
Featured Classifieds
More classifieds »
Related Posts