Arizona Rips Ucla

Tue., May 27, 1997

Associated Press

NCAA Softball World Series

Arizona didn’t even need the whole seven innings for its second straight NCAA Softball World Series championship.

The Wildcats beat UCLA 10-2 Monday in a title game that was called after five innings because of the eight-run mercy rule.

It was the fifth national championship for Arizona (61-5) and it was the third time it has defeated the Bruins (49-14), a fellow member of the Pac-10, in the championship game.

Junior pitcher Nancy Evans, a medical redshirt last season with a broken right foot, threw a five-hitter and got the offense going with a two-run double in the top of the first inning.

Evans (36-2), who set a school record for victories, went 4-1 in the double-elimination tournament. She struck out three and walked one.

Four players - Alison Johnsen, Katie Swan, Leah O’Brien and Brandi Shriver - each had two hits for the Wildcats, who added four runs in both the second and fifth innings.

UCLA, which took its second-worst loss of the season, scored in the second inning on back-to-back homers by Julie Adams and Julie Marshall.

Pitcher Christa Williams (21-8, 4-2) allowed 11 hits and 10 runs. She walked five, including three in a row in the second, and struck out seven.

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Arizona Rips Ucla

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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