Looking Back at the NCAA Champions: 2004 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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2004 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, Alissa Eno, Tara Henry, Amanda Simpson, Jaisa Creps, Ashley Herrera, Jodie Legaspi, Julie Hoshizaki, Keira Goerl, Lisa Dodd, Caitlyn Benyi, Claire Sua, Shana Stewart, Nicole Sandberg, Whitney Holum, Toria Auelua, Emily Zaplatosch, Kristen Dedmon, Michelle Turner, Stephanie Ramos

The Regular Season: UCLA posted a 39-9 overall record during the regular season and had a 12-8 mark in the Pac-10 Conference standings. The Bruins finished fourth in the conference standings behind Arizona, California and Stanford. UCLA began the year by winning its first 25 games and 27 of its first 28 contests. Despite its fourth-place finish in the Pac-10, UCLA found its stride in the postseason and finished the year on a 13-game winning streak. The Bruins were led offensively by Caitlyn Benyi, Jodie Legaspi and Stephanie Ramos. Benyi hit .379 with 24 homes runs and 43 RBIs, while Legaspi hit .371 on the year and drove in 35 runs. Ramos finished the season with a .356 average and 12 home runs. Keira Goerl and Lisa Dodd formed an outstanding combination in the circle for the Bruins. Goerl went 31-7 with a 1.02 earned run average and Dodd was 15-2 with a 0.79 ERA. Benyi and Goerl were each named All-American following the season.

The Regional/Super Regional: UCLA hosted the NCAA Regional at Easton Stadium and welcomed Cornell, Long Beach State, Alabama, Central Michigan, Louisville, Missouri and Mississippi Valley State to Westwood. The Bruins opened regional play against Mississippi Valley State and posted an 8-0 victory. UCLA faced Louisville in game two and emerged with a 2-0 win to remain undefeated in the regional. To get to Oklahoma City, the Bruins would need to beat Alabama twice – and that’s exactly what they did. They toppled the Crimson Tide 5-2 in nine innings in the first game and clinched a Women’s College World Series berth with a 7-0 victory.

The Field at the Women’s College World Series: California, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma, Stanford, UCLA, Washington

The Bruins at the Women’s College World Series: UCLA opened WCWS play against Stanford and Caitlyn Benyi and Lisa Dodd powered the Bruins to an 8-2 victory. Benyi keyed a six-run fourth inning with a three-run home run and Dodd went 3-for-4 and drove in two runs. Keira Goerl went the distance in the circle for the Bruins and she allowed six hits and struck out seven batters. Goerl took centerstage in the Bruins next game as she tossed a shutout as UCLA defeated LSU 2-0. Goerl went 7.0 innings and allowed four hits and struck out five. Stephanie Ramos and Jodie Legaspi each had RBI singles in the first inning and Goerl made the lead stand up. The Bruins and the Cardinal met in a rematch of the WCWS opener and UCLA defeated Stanford 3-1 in 12 innings behind another outstanding pitching effort from Goerl. It wasn’t a dominant performance, but rather a gritty effort that kept the Bruins unbeaten. She went 12.0 innings and allowed 11 hits, but kept Stanford to just the one run and struck out six batters. Both teams had multiple scoring opportunities as the Bruins left 12 runners on base and Stanford left 11 on base. The Bruins broke the 1-1 deadlock in the top of the 12th inning when Dodd and Ramos each delivered RBI doubles giving UCLA a 3-1 lead. Goerl retired the Cardinal in order in the bottom of the inning lifting the Bruins into the national championship game.

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