UCLA
Oregon
Bruin Softball Shuts Out Oregon, 6-0
April 07, 2000 | Softball
April 7, 2000
EUGENE, Ore. - UCLA's third-ranked softball team spoiled the Pac-10 home opener for Oregon on Friday afternoon, downing the Ducks by a 6-0 margin at Howe Field. The Bruins improve to 29-5 (4-0 Pac-10), while Oregon falls to 24-14 (1-3 Pac-10).
The game started out well for UCLA, who pushed home a run in the bottom of the first inning on a single by Julie Marshall. Oregon had two runners on and were threatening in the bottom of the first on singles by Andrea Gustafson and Missy Coe, but Jill Robinson struck out and Coe was picked off of first base to strand Gustafson at second.
After playing three scoreless innings, UCLA essentially broke the game open in the top of the fifth inning when Crissy Buck led off the frame with a double down the left field line. After Lupe Brambila sacrificed to move Buck to third, pitcher Amanda Freed drove her in on a sacrifice fly to put UCLA ahead, 2-0. After Natasha Watley beat out a bunt single, the Oregon defense fell apart as Lyndsey Klein reached on an error by third baseman Christi Shelton and Marshall reached on an error by Ray, scoring both Watley and Klein and putting UCLA comfortably in front, 5-0.
The lead would be enough for Freed, who proved to be too much for the Oregon lineup, as she allowed just two first-inning hits and struck out 11. The Bruins added two more runs in the top of the seventh inning to account for the 6-0 final.
The win moves Freed's record to 12-2 on the season. Connie McMurren started and got the loss for Oregon, dropping her season mark to 9-10.
UCLA returns to action on Saturday and Sunday, completing the weekend series at Oregon State on April 8 and 9. First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for 2 p.m., while Sunday's game is a 1 p.m. start.
