May 20, 2001
LOS ANGELES - San Diego State's Cinderella softball season came to an end on Sunday, as second-ranked and top-seeded UCLA eliminated the Aztecs in the regional championship game by a score of 11-0 at Easton Stadium on the UCLA campus.
San Diego State, which concluded the season with a school-record 41 victories, was one of 16 teams remaining when the regional championships began today.
"I told our team when we beat Oklahoma earlier this year that we would sneak up on some people and I believe we have done that," Aztec coach Kathy Van Wyk said. "This weekend has been as good as any national championship for these kids because we have reached and surpassed our potential."
"Sandra Durazo has single-handedly brought us to this level but let's be honest. We saw the real UCLA team today against a tired Sandra Durazo."
The Bruins pounded out 14 hits in the five-inning contest, including three home runs. UCLA scored in every inning and limited the Aztecs to just one hit - a one out double by right fielder Tiffany Goudy in the first inning.
UCLA advances to the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, May 24-28. The Bruins, which have made the tournament field 18 times in 20 seasons, will try for the school's 10th national championship.
The Bruins struck early, with one out in the first inning center fielder Stephanie Ramos homered to give UCLA a 1-0 lead. The Aztecs got a one-out double from Goudy in the bottom of the first, and had runners on the corners with two outs in the frame, but were unable to score.
UCLA added to its advantage in the second inning, following a pair of walks and a sacrifice placed runners on second and third with none out, left fielder Lupe Brambila had an RBI single to put the Bruins up 2-0. Shortstop Natasha Watley had an RBI single and Ramos added her second RBI of the contest with a sacrifice fly to go up 4-0.
UCLA added two more home runs. Catcher Stacey Nuveman hit her 19th home run of the season to lead off the third inning and right fielder Courtney Dale added a two-run shot, her fourth of the season, in the fifth inning.
Durazo, the Aztec right-handed pitcher, was lifted in the fourth inning to a standing ovation. The senior left the contest having pitch 107 and one-third consecutive innings for the Aztecs and was named to the all-region squad. The all-time school leader in victories, games started, complete games, strikeouts and innings pitched, ended the season with a 30-15 record.
Center fielder Janna Kovensky also earned all tournament honors. The freshman was 6-for-13 with a home run, three runs batted in and two runs scored in the tournament.
The contest was the final game for three senior members of the Aztec squad. Durazo, third baseman Tashie Aguinaga and utility player Vanessa Villegas are all senior members of the Aztecs first NCAA tournament team.
(1) UCLA 11, (4) San Diego State 0
UCLA 1 3 1 4 2 - 11 14 0San Diego State 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 1 0Amanda Freed and Stacey Nuveman. Sandra Durazo and Brooke Johnson. W - Amanda Freed (19-3). LP - Sandra Durazo (30-15). S - none.
LOB - UCLA 8, San Diego State 3. DP - UCLA 1, San Diego State 0. 2B - SDSU: Tiffany Goudy. 3B - none. HR - UCLA: Stephanie Ramos (2, 0 on 1 out in 1st), Stacey Nuveman (19, 0 on 0 out in 3rd), Courtney Dale (4, 1 on 2 out in 5th). SB - UCLA: Natasha Watley (51), Lupe Brambila (18), Monique Mejia (6). CS - none. SH - UCLA: Toria Auelua. SF - UCLA: Stephanie Ramos.
T - 1:58. A - 475.
NCAA Regional, Los Angeles, Calif. Seed No. 2 - May 17-20 at Los Angeles
May 17Game 2: (5) Wisconsin 3, (2) Fresno State 1 (9 innings)Game 3: (4) San Diego State 2, (3) Cal State Northridge 0Game 1: (1) UCLA 8, (6) Coastal Carolina 0 (5 innings)Game 4: (2) Fresno State 6, (6) Coastal Carolina 4 (Coastal Carolina eliminated)May 18Game 5: (3) Cal State Northridge 3, (2) Fresno State 1 (Fresno State eliminated)Game 6: (4) San Diego State 1, (5) Wisconsin 0Game 7: (1) UCLA 9, (3) Cal State Northridge 0 (Cal State Northridge eliminated)May 19 Game 8: (5) Wisconsin, byeGame 9: (1) UCLA 3, (4) San Diego State 1Game 10: (4) San Diego State 6, (5) Wisconsin 1 (Wisconsin eliminated)May 20 Game 11: (1) UCLA 11, (4) San Diego State 0 (San Diego State eliminated)