May 16, 2002

Columbia, SC – The top-ranked UCLA Bruins came away with a close victory today as they defeated the Liberty Flames in a first-round match-up in the NCAA Softball Regional Championships in Columbia, S.C. The Bruins advance to the second round while Liberty will face the Georgia-UMBC loser in the double-elimination bracket.

Liberty had the chance to put a mark on the scoreboard first as Mary Beth Kennel hit a single to left then advanced to second on an error. Lauren Hahn laid down a sacrifice bunt that advanced Kennel to third but Amanda Goc hit into a double play in which the Bruins caught Kennel trying to score.

UCLA had plenty of chances to score early on as runners were in scoring position in the second, third, and fourth innings, but Liberty’s pesky defense continually came up with a way to stop a run from scoring in each of those innings.

Finally, in the bottom of the fifth, Amanda Freed singled to left and Tairia Mims drove a two-run home run to left field ending the scoreless tie and putting the Bruins on top 2-0. Liberty immediately brought in Ali Thompson into pitch and Thompson escaped the inning without another run.

UCLA scored another run in the bottom of the sixth as Stephanie Ramos scored on an error by the Liberty centerfielder Lauren Hahn. Neither Liberty nor UCLA scored again.

UCLA advances to the second round and will play Friday, May 17th at 7:00 p.m. Liberty faces the Georgia-UMBC loser tonight at 7:00 p.m.