Looking Back at the NCAA Champions: 2003 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.

*****

2003 UCLA Bruins

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

The Head Coach: Sue Enquist

The Players (Women’s College World Series Roster): Andrea Duran, Allison Chislock, Alissa Eno, Amanda Simpson, Erica Corley, Monique Mejia, Julie Hoshizaki, Keira Goerl, Caitlyn Benyi, Claire Sua, Tairia Mims, Nicole Sandberg, Toria Auelua, Emily Zaplatosch, Natasha Watley, Michelle Turner, Stephanie Ramos

The Regular Season: UCLA posted a 45-6 record during the regular season and had a 17-4 mark in the Pac-10 Conference standings. The Bruins finished second in the conference standings behind defending national champion Arizona. UCLA began the year by winning 25 of its first 26 games and closed the season by winning 23 of its final 25 contest. The Bruins offense was led by Natasha Watley and Tairia Mims. Watley finished the season with a .481 batting average, 102 hits, 64 runs scored and 53 RBIs, while Mims batted .449 with 22 home runs and 70 runs batted in. Keira Goerl and Michelle Turner led UCLA in the circle. Goerl had a 40-7 record, a 0.63 earned run average and 342 strikeouts, while Turner was 14-0 with a 0.83 ERA. Watley was named the Honda-Broderick Cup recipient as the NCAA Player of the Year as well as being named the Pac-10 Player of the Year and First Team All-American. Mims, Goerl and Claire Sua were also named All-Americans for the Bruins.

The Regional/Super Regional: UCLA traveled to Fresno, Calif., for the NCAA Regional, and joined Fresno State, Long Beach State, Colgate, Michigan State, North Carolina, Georgia and LIU Brooklyn. The Bruins opened the regional against Colgate and recorded an 8-0 victory. Game two came against the host Fresno State and UCLA remained unbeaten with a 3-0 victory. The Bruins capped the regional with a pair of victories against Michigan State to secure its spot in the Women’s College World Series. UCLA beat the Spartans 6-2 and 5-0.

The Field at the Women’s College World Series: Alabama, Arizona, California, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, UCLA, Washington

The Bruins at the Women’s College World Series: UCLA opened WCWS play against California and the Bruins suffered a shocking 7-3 loss in 10 innings. Trailing 3-1 heading to the bottom of the seventh inning, UCLA tied the game when Tairia Mims hit a two-out, two-run home run, but the Bears scored four runs in the top of the 10th inning to secure the victory. With its season hanging in the balance in every game moving forward, UCLA faced Louisiana in its second game. Keira Goerl pitched a one-hitter and struck out eight in leading the Bruins to a 5-1 victory. Natasha Watley had three hits and Mims and Monique Mejia homered to lead the Bruins offense. Tied 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning against Washington, Mims once again answered the call. She belted a home run giving UCLA a 2-1 lead and Goerl worked out of a jam in the top of the seventh inning to clinch the win. Next up for UCLA was Texas and Cat Osterman and the Bruins needed two wins over the Longhorns to advance to the championship game. In game one against Texas, Toria Auelua gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning with a home run off of Osterman. UCLA extended the lead to 3-0 in the top of the seventh inning on RBI singles from Watley and Claire Sua. It was more than enough offense for Goerl as she allowed just two hits and struck out nine in the shutout victory. Goerl and Osterman hooked up again in game two and the Bruins needed a dramatic rally to post a 2-1 win. The Longhorns took a 1-0 lead in the first o an unearned run and Osterman held the Bruins in check until the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out, Mejia singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Watley delivered an RBI single to tie the game at 1-1. Caitlyn Benyi followed with a single to right and Watley scampered home with the winning run propelling the Bruins into the national championship game.

Join Today to Get Unlimited Access to Extra Inning Softball

Join Now

Already a Extra Inning Member? Log In

SUBSCRIBE

COPYRIGHT © 2024 Extra Inning Softball TM

Check out our other EIS links: