UCLA Puts Up a Fight in Sweep by U.S. Team

You lose your last two games and then take two weeks off for final exams and spring break. By the way, UCLA, when you return you’ve got to shake off the rust by playing the best softball team on the planet.

It was a daunting challenge for the Bruins, but they made the best of it Saturday as the U.S. Olympic team had to work for its sweep of an exhibition doubleheader at UCLA’s Easton Stadium.

Before a standing-room-only crowd of 1,218, the U.S. sent out the lineup it will use to defend its 1996 Olympic gold medal at Sydney in September. It won, 3-0 and 2-0, but needed late runs in both games to break scoreless ties.

UCLA didn’t do much at the plate all day against four U.S. pitchers. But Bruin pitchers Amanda Freed and Stephanie Swenson more than held their own.

Freed gave up only five hits in the first game--three in the decisive final inning--and Swenson gave up only five in the nightcap.

The doubleheader featured some of the recognizable faces that won the gold in Atlanta, including Dot Richardson, Sheila Douty and Lisa Fernandez.

Fernandez, also an assistant coach at UCLA, was proud of the Bruins’ performance and said it was what the national team needed after a monthlong layoff of its own.

“I thought it was good for both of us,� she said. “It was good for them because they’re going into Pac-10 play next week. It worked out for us because this was what we needed.�

Stacey Nuveman hurt the Bruins in the seventh inning of the first game with a sharp single to left to score Jennifer Brundage. The U.S. added its third run when Douty scored on an error by Buck.

“There were some mixed emotions,� said Nuveman, who is redshirting her junior year with the Bruins to play for the national team. “UCLA put up a good fight.�

The U.S. team needed eight innings to put the Bruins away in the second game. U.S. pitchers Christa Williams and Lori Harrigan combined on a no-hitter.