May 17, 2002
Columbia, S.C. – The UCLA Bruins showed why they were the number one team in the nation today as they shut out the Colonels of Eastern Kentucky 10-0 in the 2002 NCAA Softball Regional. Bruin pitcher Keira Goerl pitched a no hitter, the second of the day in the Columbia Regional, and the Bruins ended the game with the mercy rule in five innings.
UCLA (52-6) advances to face Georgia Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Beckham Field in Columbia, S.C. with weather pending. There is a 60% chance of rain in Columbia on Saturday with a high of 77 degrees expected. Eastern Kentucky (37-14) suffered their second defeat of the tournament and were eliminated.
UCLA first scored in the top of the second inning as Crissy Buck reached first on their second straight fielder’s choice, giving the Bruins two outs. On the next pitch, Buck stole second base. Stephanie Ramos singled up the middle, which scored Buck. Toria Auelua, the next batter for the Bruins, popped up to the shortstop to end the inning.
UCLA added three runs in the top of the third as it all started off with Monique Mejia being walked. Mejia then stole second. Natasha Whatley flied out to center, making the first out. Mejia was held at second by the Colonels defense, but that move was futile as Mejia stole third. Amanda Freed would pop up to third and Mejia would be unable to move. Tairia Mims came up next and drove a single into center field, scoring Mejia. Mims then advanced to second on a wild pitch.
EKU’s Jessica Soto walked Stacey Nuveman and both Nuveman and Mims advanced a base after a wild pitch was thrown. With the Bruins having runners and second and third, EKU walked Claire Sua to load the bases. Crissy Buck came up and drove a double to right-center, scoring both Mims and Nuveman. EKU’s Soto would walk the next batter, Stephanie Ramos and then be taken out for Beth Conner. Conner would end the inning forcing Toria Auelua to hit into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.
UCLA would start off the top of the fifth with Stacey Nuveman doubling to right field. At this point, EKU would bring in Jonelle Csora to pitch the rest of the way out. Csora would walk Claire Sua, who would have Julie Hoshizaki pinch run for her. Casey Hiraiwa, who came into play second base for Crissy Buck, would fly out to second base. Stephanie Ramos came up next and doubled to center, scoring Nuveman. Toria Auelua would walk to load the bases and Monique Mejia would hit a single to left, scoring Ramos and Hoshizaki.
Natasha Watley would be up next and single which advanced Mejia to second and Auelua to third. Amanda Freed would reach on base due to a fielder’s choice and advanced to second. Watley advanced to third. Mejia, who was on second, advanced to third, then scored off of an error by EKU’s third baseman Ashley Totten. Tairia Mims would get hit by the pitch to get on base. Stacey Nuveman would send a sacrifice fly into left field, which scored Watley. Claire Sua came into play DP for Julie Hoshizaki and would ground out to second base, ending the big inning for the Bruins.
EKU would be unable to get a hit in the bottom of the fifth and UCLA would go on to win due to the eight run mercy rule in the fifth inning.
“I’m pleased with our production offensively,” said UCLA Head Coach Sue Enquist. “We did a much better job of putting the ball in play. It was a good start for us today. I felt that yesterday [against Liberty] was not very impressive.”
