Fresno State Athletics
Four-Run Seventh Leads UCLA Past Michigan State 6-2
5/17/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 17, 2003
FRESNO, Calif. - After struggling through its worst inning of this NCAA Softball Regional, top-seeded UCLA bounced back to thump Michigan State 6-2 in a winners bracket game in Fresno, Calif.
The win moves the Bruins (48-6) into the championship game Sunday at noon. The No. 3-seeded Spartans (39-18) drop into an elimination game tonight at 6 p.m. against host and fourth-seeded Fresno State.
Michigan State picked up its only two runs of the game in the first inning courtesy of two UCLA errors. After a Sandy Lewis single with one out, Natalie Furrow hit a sharp chopper to second that went between the legs of Monique Mejia for a three-base error, scoring Lewis. MSU's Tiffany Wallace then botched the bunt on a squeeze play, leaving Furrow caught in between third and home. But the throw back to third was missed by shortstop Natasha Watley, allowing Furrow to score, making it 2-0.
The Bruins added single runs in the second and third on solo home runs by Emily Zaplatosch and Claire Sua. Sua's drive was well over the left-center field fence and traveled an estimated 265 feet.
The score remained 2-2 until the top of the seventh inning when UCLA busted it open. With one out, Caitlin Benyi singled. She was followed by Tairia Mims, who cracked a two-run HR over the 220 foot sign in center field, giving the Bruins a 4-2 lead, their first of the day.
After an error and a single put runners on second and third, Zaplatosch doubled off the right-field wall, scoring two runs and increasing UCLA's lead to 6-2.
Keira Goerl, who is staking a mighty claim to the regional's most outstanding player honors, picked up her third win of the week. She improves to 34-6 on the year and set a school record for single-season victories.
The loss went to Jessica Beech, who dropped to 27-10.
