Roundup From BN Walk: News & Notes

It's official. Featuring the softball team on center page for open game thread is turning out to be serious mojo for all of our teams.

We will start with the softball team. The ladies remain on track for Oklahoma by rallying to beat Nevada in nine innings:

Freshman Katie Schroeder drove in the game-tying run in the seventh and the go-ahead score in the ninth, while sophomore Megan Langenfeld struck out a career-high 10 in 7 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, as the Bruins came back to defeat Nevada 6-4 in nine innings on Saturday at Easton Stadium.

The Bruins improve to 47-7 overall and will advance to the Regional Championship on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. The Wolf Pack fall to 43-17 and will take on Purdue later Saturday night.

Langenfeld was brilliant in relief, allowing no walks and six hits to improve to 8-2 on the season. The 10 strikeouts were two more than her previous career high.

At the plate, the Bruins had 12 hits. Langenfeld, Schroeder, junior Amanda Kamekona and freshman Monica Harrison each had a pair of hits, while Langenfeld and Schroeder both drove in two runs.

Later in the day Nevada beat Purdue by a score of 2-1 to stay alive in the Los Angeles regional. Nevada's win set up another UCLA-Nevada showdown today at 2:30 pm PST. Our Bruins just need to win one game to get to the world series the super regionals. If Nevada wins the game at 2:30 pm that will set up a final/deciding game between the two teams beginning at 5 pm PST. Let's hope that second game will not be necessary. So please get out to Easton and show your support for these incredibly talented athletes.

Meanwhile, softball team was not alone in coming through with clutch performances yesterday in Westwood. The boys themselves pulled of a huge come from behind (must win) series clincher against Washington State. The baseball team pulled off its own dramatic extra innings win against the Cougars at Jackie Robinson:

Bruin shortstop Brandon Crawford scored the game-winning run on a pop-fly base-hit to center field in the bottom of the 10th inning, sending the UCLA baseball team to a dramatic 7-6 victory over Washington State on Saturday afternoon at Steele Field at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

UCLA's 10th-inning rally began after Crawford drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a single by designated hitter Cody Decker, and advanced to third base on a balk by Washington State left-hander Ross Humes (4-4). In his second at-bat of the afternoon, center fielder Tim Murphy lifted a fly ball to center field that dropped between the center fielder and second baseman, allowing Crawford to score from third.

Left-hander Brendan Lafferty (3-2) earned his second win in the Bruins' last three games, hurling three scoreless innings in relief. Lafferty allowed two hits and recorded two strikeouts without issuing a walk. Humes was tagged with the loss for the Cougars (28-24, 6-14 Pac-10), surrendering two runs and five hits in two innings of relief.

Right fielder Gabe Cohen led UCLA (28-23, 10-10), going 2-for-4 with two solo home runs. Decker was 3-for-4 with one double and two RBI, and first baseman Casey Haerther went 2-for-5 with one homer.

Cohen and Haerther was solid. But watching the game the two kids I was most impressed with were: Lafferty and Crawford. Lafferty came into the game in a situation that was set up for a complete meltdown. Right after the Bruins tied up the score with Cohen's second homerun at the bottom of the 7th, the Cougars went on to load up the bases with no body out (IIRC) at the top of the 8th. Lafferty - a FRESHMAN RS junior - came in and settled down the situation by giving up just one one and getting our team out of what could have an ugly jam. And he was helped by some spectacular plays by Crawford at shortstop. Really good stuff.

That was the first baseball game I have really gotten to see this season and I really enjoyed it. Hopefully yesterday's clutch win will keep the team focused and keep on their steak which is now at 3 wins.

Speaking of staying on a hot streak, the women's tennis team cruised into the Final-4 yesterday by sweeping Arkansas. They will be back in the Final-4 action on Monday and try to accomplish what their peers (Ben Ball warriors) couldn't do in two tries: beat Florida.

Also on the tennis front, the #3 ranked men's team will try to match the women's team in today's quarterfinal action (5 pm CST) by taking on Southern California.

We will put up another double header game thread for this afternoon  where you can follow all the action online.

Lastly, I will end this little little blurb from WWL who is posing this question for UCLA fans re our football program :

Every football school has a Face of the Program, that iconic image you think of when talking football on campus. Here's your chance to help define who or what that is. Is it that fabled coach? A legendary player? A memorable play? A unique mascot? SportsNation is taking all suggestions as you help decide the Face of the Program.

Here is my suggestion:

You can submit your entry here.

As always you can share your suggestion in our FanShots section. Although please note if you are sharing a pic that is not your own please make sure to mention where you got the picture from.

UPDATE: We now have a poll up on BN wrt the question posed by ESPN. -N

GO BRUINS.