UCLA advances to title game

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY — UCLA advanced to the championship of the Women's College World Series yesterday, scoring all its runs against Texas starter Meagan Denny in the first inning and beating the Longhorns 3-0.

UCLA's Anjelica Selden (28-12) won her third consecutive game, defeating Texas 3-0. Selden, a freshman, gave up just two hits and struck out 12 Longhorns. Sue Ogrocki • Associated Press

Last night, Tennessee (67-14) beat Michigan (62-6), 2-0, in the 11th inning to force another game this morning, with the winner advancing to meet UCLA.

The Bruins scored their runs on a two hits and an error before Texas, which eliminated Arizona 1-0 earlier yesterday, replaced Denny (10-3) with Cat Osterman.

Jodi Legaspi's single scored UCLA's first run, an error by Texas shortstop Desiree Williams made it 2-0 and Krista Colburn's single to right gave the Bruins a three-run lead.

Osterman came on to get Lisa Dodd to bounce into a fielder's choice to end the inning. Osterman then retired 15 batters in order, not allowing any hits and striking out six.

UCLA freshman Anjelica Selden (28-12) won her third consecutive game and allowed only two hits, both in the first inning. She finished with 12 strikeouts.

In an earlier game, Monica Abbott allowed just four hits in Tennessee's 4-0 win over Alabama, eliminating the Crimson Tide.

Alabama advanced to its second elimination game of the day after beating DePaul 2-1 on Capper Reed's single up the middle in the bottom of the 12th inning, eliminating the Blue Demons.

In Texas' win over Arizona, Mickayla Padilla scored on an errant throw and Osterman pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the 11th inning.

In Alabama's victory against DePaul, Staci Ramsey led off the 12th with a single and pinch-runner Michelle Menningmann moved to second on a groundout. Reed then slapped a single up the middle for her only hit of the game to score the winning run.