UCLA Plays Arizona in Title Game

OKLAHOMA CITY — There’s a familiar look to the NCAA Softball World Series final today.

There’s UCLA, which has been in the championship game nine times in 11 years, and Arizona, which has played the Bruins in five of those games.

UCLA (49-13) reached the final Sunday with a 1-0 win over Washington that wasn’t accomplished until first baseman Leah Poulson ended the game by throwing to third baseman Julie Marshall, who tagged pinch-runner Jamie Redd for the final out.

Redd was running for Heather Tarr, who had singled with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning. Leah Francis followed with a single before pinch-hitter Rochell Rahal hit into a fielder’s choice, with Francis forced at second.

Taking the relay throw on the double play try from shortsop Julie Adams, Poulson turned and fired the ball to Marshall, who tagged Redd as she was trying to get back to third base.

Christa Williams collected her fourth win in five World Series games, giving up four hits. The losing pitcher was Eve Gaw, who didn’t give up a hit until the sixth inning.

Arizona (60-5) advanced by beating Fresno State, 6-3.

The Wildcats had lost, 3-0, to Fresno State earlier Sunday to force the elimination rematch.

Arizona’s Leah O’Brien hit a two-run homer in the third inning to tie the second game, 2-2.

Fresno State went back ahead, 3-2, on a solo homer by catcher Catalina Chavez in the fourth.

Nancy Evans put the Wildcats ahead in the fifth inning with a fielder’s choice that scored O’Brien.

Arizona catcher Leah Braatz-Cochrane had singled home Katie Swan to tie the game, 3-3, before Evans hit a bouncer to Fresno shortstop Brooke Bernardoni, whose throw home wasn’t in time to get the sliding O’Brien.