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.

OKLAHOMA CITY “”mdash; For the first time all season,
UCLA’s Keira Goerl couldn’t put the rest of the Bruins
on her back.
After retiring Cal’s Haley Woods in the bottom of the
ninth to clinch the national title, Goerl’s teammates mobbed
her, hugged her, and jumped on her as she fell to the ground in a
joyous dog pile.

OKLAHOMA CITY “”mdash; After sustaining its only loss of the
College World Series against Cal, the UCLA softball team got its
revenge in the timeliest of fashions.

Much like a real estate agent repeats the maxim,
“Location, Location, Location,” the NCAA stresses the
quality of facilities as its main criterion for picking a softball
postseason regional site.

It would be logical to assume that on Senior Day the senior
stars, shortstop Natasha Watley, second baseman Monique Mejia,
infielder Tairia Mims and third baseman Toria Auelua, would be the
players to step up and carry the UCLA softball team to victory over
Oregon State.

UCLA’s Keira Goerl is as hard to hit as her name is to
pronounce.
In 32 starts thus far this season, the junior pitcher has thrown
19 complete-game shutouts and 12 one-hitters, leading the Bruins to
a No.

After squandering a series of opportunities against Arizona two
weeks ago, the UCLA softball team appeared doomed to repeat its
fate again.
Trailing No. 3 Washington by two runs with two outs in the
bottom of the fifth inning, Bruin third baseman Tairia Mims hit a
routine fly ball to right field that seemed to end all hope of a
comeback.

It might seem odd to describe the No. 2 UCLA softball team
(34-5) as struggling.
But after dropping three of its past five games ““ two at
home to then-No.

There is no dispute as to which conference is the toughest in
collegiate softball. The Pac-10 stands well above the competition
as all eight participating teams are ranked in the National
Fastpitch Coaches Association and ESPN Top-25 polls.

After a lackluster 2-0 win over Missouri on Sunday, the No. 1
UCLA softball team is looking forward to the Hallowell Chevrolet
Classic in Fresno to sharpen its game against tougher competition
this weekend.