Looking Back at the NCAA Champions: 1990 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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1990 UCLA Bruins

The Venue: ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, Oklahoma City, Okla.

The Head Coach: Sharron Backus, Sue Enquist

The Players (Women’s College World Series Roster): Kelly Inouye, Maria Rodriguez, Kristy Howard, DeDe Weiman, Shanna Flynn, Yvonne Gutierrez, Lisa Longaker, Michelle Montgomery, Heather Compton, Kerry Dienelt, Erica Ziencina, Missy Phillips, Lisa Fernandez, Bea Chiaravanont

The Regular Season: UCLA dominated the field during the regular season, and the postseason, as the Bruins rolled to a 54-6 overall record during the regular season. UCLA recorded a 16-2 record in the Pac-10 to claim the regular season title. During a 22-game winning streak from March 31 to May 3, the Bruins outscored their opponents 68-3 and did not allow a run for 122 straight innings over 13 games. Freshman Lisa Fernandez earned All-America honors as did senior Lisa Longaker and sophomore All-American Yvonne Gutierrez. UCLA once again dominated teams in the circle as Fernandez, Longaker, DeDe Weiman and Heather Compton combined to throw 46 shutouts and post a staff earned run average of 0.42.

The Regional/Super Regional: UCLA hosted the NCAA Regional against Northern Iowa at Sunset Field. The Bruins won the opener 2-0 and closed out the series with a 4-0 win in game two of the series. The sweep secured the Bruins spot in the Women’s College World Series for the eighth time in the last nine years.

The Field at the Women’s College World Series: Arizona, Florida State, Fresno State, Kent State, Long Beach State, Oklahoma State, UCLA, UNLV

The Bruins at the Women’s College World Series: UCLA opened WCWS play against Kent State and cruised to a 4-0 victory. Lisa Longaker pitched a three-hit shutout and struck out nine batters, while Yvonne Gutierrez drove in two runs and Lisa Fernandez and Missy Phillips each had an RBI. Fernandez made her WCWS debut in game two against Long Beach State and, in a sign of things to come, threw a four-hit shutout leading the Bruins to a 4-0 victory. Gutierrez went 2-for-2 and drove in a pair of runs to lead the Bruin offense. UCLA improved to 3-0 in the tournament with a 2-1 victory over Oklahoma State. The Bruins took advantage of two Cowgirl errors in the first inning to score twice and then held off a late Oklahoma State rally with Longaker coming in to earn the save. The pitching of DeDe Weiman and the bat of Fernandez led the Bruins to a 3-0 victory over Florida State. Fernandez was 3-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs and Weiman tossed a three-hit shutout. Game five saw UCLA face its long-time rival Fresno State and the Bulldogs pulled off a 1-0 victory to force the if-necessary game to decide the national championship. The Bulldogs earned a walk-off win on a wild pitch.

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