Softball Drops Nine-Inning Heartbreaker to #4 UCLA
5/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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LOS ANGELES, CA — The Alabama offense came out swinging but was unable to overcome 14 strikeouts from Bruin starting pitcher Keira Goerl as the Tide (44-19) dropped its first game in NCAA Regional action 5-2 in nine-innings to the fourth-ranked UCLA Bruins.
UCLA shortstop Jodie Legaspi hit a three-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to end Alabama's six-game winning streak in NCAA Regional action.
"I guess everyone got their money's worth," said Alabama Head Coach Patrick Murphy. "I thought it was a great game. It was definitely the best game we've played against them since I've been at Alabama. We just have to regroup and refocus and forget about it."
For the third time in the tournament Alabama got on the board first putting runners on first and second with two outs. Ashley Courtney then bounced a single back up the middle scoring Capper Reed from second. UCLA center fielder Stephanie Ramos bobbled the ball allowing Jackie Wilkins, who was at first, to get to third. Ramos then unleashed a wild throw from center in an effort to get Wilkins at third that allowed Wilkins to come and score for a 2-0 Alabama lead.
The Bruins cut the lead in half in the bottom of the third inning on a Caitlin Benyi solo home run to right field making it a 2-1 affair.
UCLA threatened more damage in the bottom of the fourth inning putting runners on second and third with one out. Stephanie VanBrakle came on in relief of Bama starter Jennifer Wright and retired the next two Bruin batters on a strikeout and a ground out on the infield to end the threat.
UCLA managed to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out single through the right side by Claire Sua, scoring Caitlin Benyi and knotting the score at 2-2.
Alabama played a little strategy in the bottom of the sixth inning and it worked. With runners on first and second and two outs, Bama walked Benyi to load the bases and after a lengthy at-bat by Andrea Duran, VanBrakle got her to ground out to second base to end the Bruin threat.
VanBrakle (17-10) took the loss in relief, throwing the final five innings allowing four runs on five hits while walking six batters and striking out three.
"We never give up no matter what the score is," said Courtney. "That's the character of this team. We always fight till the final out."
Ashley Courtney finished the day 2-4 with the Tide's only RBI on the day.
Alabama will play again tonight against the winner of the Long Beach St./Mississippi Valley State game in an elimination game. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. (PT). . Fans can also follow all the action at www.rolltide.com where Chad Anderson will call all the balls and strikes. The broadcast will also air in Tuscaloosa on New Rock 90.7 FM, WVUA. Live stats will also be available at www.rolltide.com.
NOTES:
--Alabama batters recorded double-digit strikeouts for the sixth time this season.
--Alabama is 0-6 all-time against UCLA including 0-3 in postseason play against the Bruins.
--Alabama fails to homer in an NCAA Regional for the first time in six games.
--Crimson Tide's six-game NCAA Regional winning streak comes to an end.
--Alabama plays its longest NCAA Regional game ever at 3:27. The previous record was 2:47 vs. Southern Illinois in the 2003 Regional.
--Alabama is 2-2 in extra inning games in the NCAA Regional Tournament.
