Looking Back at the NCAA Champions: 1985 UCLA Bruins

Photo courtesy UCLA Athletics

Fall ball is wrapping up around the country in Division I, which allows us to set our sights on the 2024 season that lies ahead.

Early focus will be centered on the University of Oklahoma as they begin the quest to become the first team in Division I history to win four consecutive national championships.

The Sooners tied UCLA (1988, 1989, 1990) as the only teams to ever win three consecutive titles when they defeated Florida State to claim the 2023 title.

Extra Inning Softball will be reviewing the 41 national champions that have previously hoisted the trophy.

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1985 UCLA Bruins

The Venue: Seymour Smith Park, Omaha, Neb.

The Head Coach: Sharron Backus

The Players (Women’s College World Series Roster): Gina Holmstrom, Tracy Compton, Jennifer Simm, Kaelyn Silva, Lisa Hankerd, Tricia Mang, Mary Ricks, Debbie Ruelas, Leslie Rover, Stacy Winsberg, Chris Olivie, Julie Henderson, Debbie Doom, Shauna Wattenberg, Janet Pinneau

The Regular Season: UCLA finished the regular season with a 33-7 overall record and a 9-3 record in the Western Collegiate Athletic Association. The Bruins 9-3 record was good for second place in the WCAA standings behind Cal State Fullerton who posted a perfect 12-0 mark. The duo of Tracy Compton and Debbie Doom combined to throw 30 shutouts during the regular season.

The Regional/Super Regional: The Bruins stumbled into the postseason having lost three consecutive games to end the regular season and then dropped the opener of the West Regional to Pacific (3-1) in Santa Maria, Calif. UCLA rallied to defeat the Tigers 3-0 and 2-0 to advance to the Women’s College World Series.

The Field at the Women’s College World Series: Adelphi, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State Fullerton, Louisiana Tech, Nebraska, Northwestern, UCLA, Utah

The Bruins at the Women’s College World Series: UCLA opened WCWS play against Utah and posted a 1-0 victory before running into nemesis Cal State Fullerton in game two of the WCWS. The Titans posted their third victory of the season against UCLA with a 2-0 win sending the Bruins to the loser’s bracket. Led by Tracy Compton and Debbie Doom, UCLA defeated Northwestern 1-0 and Nebraska 3-0 to set up a return meeting with Cal State Fullerton. UCLA picked the perfect time to post its first win of the season against the Titans as the Bruins 1-0 win secured a berth in the national championship game.

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