Looking Back at the NCAA Champions: 1988 UCLA Bruins

Photo courtesy UCLA Athletics

Fall practice has wrapped 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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1988 UCLA Bruins

The Venue: Twin Creeks Sports Complex, Sunnyvale, Calif.

The Head Coach: Sharron Backus

The Players (Women’s College World Series Roster): Lorraine Maynez, Bea Chiaravanont, Samantha Ford, Shanna Flynn, Lisa Longaker, Michelle Montgomery, Erica Ziencina, Kerry Dienelt, Janice Parks, Missy Phillips, Karen Walker, Stacy Sunny, Monica Tourville, Lisa Hankerd

The Regular Season: UCLA finished the regular season with a 46-7 overall record and a 15-3 mark in the Pac-10. The 15-3 record in conference play was good enough for the Bruins to finish atop the league standings. UCLA had four players hit over .300 on the season and had an outstanding one-two punch in the circle. Lorraine Maynez (OF), Janice Parks (3B) and Lisa Longaker (P) each earned All-America honors for the Bruins. UCLA had three separate winning streaks of at least eight games, including 16 in a row from March 21 to April 4 during which the Bruins outscored their opponents 88-6, posting 10 shutouts along the way.

The Regional/Super Regional: UCLA hosted the NCAA Regional against Cal State Fullerton. During the regular season, the two teams split a pair of games and offense was centerstage as a combined 17 runs were scored. In the postseason, the UCLA pitching staff took over as the Bruins posted a 3-0 win in game one and finished off the Titans with a 2-0 victory in game two. With the sweep, UCLA secured its sixth Women’s College World Series berth in seven years.

The Field at the Women’s College World Series: Adelphi, Arizona, Cal Poly Pomona, Fresno State, Nebraska, Northern Illinois, Texas A&M, UCLA

The Bruins at the Women’s College World Series: UCLA opened WCWS play against Northern Illinois and posted a 1-0 victory. The Bruins followed with an impressive 6-1 victory over Fresno State to remain unbeaten in tournament play. UCLA continued its offensive assault with a 5-0 victory over Arizona and a 4-1 win against Cal Poly Pomona. To that point in the tournament the Bruins had outscored their opposition 16-2, but Fresno State shocked UCLA with a 2-1 victory setting the stage for a winner take all game to decide the national championship.

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