Yesterday, the Softball Bruins took down Arizona 1-0 in a pitchers duel between Anjelica Selden and Taryne Mowatt to get one step closer to #103. Mowatt gave up only three hits but the one run she gave up in the first inning was enough to put the Bruins over the top on the back of Selden's three hit shutout.

The official site gives the details as the Bruins continue their quest for #103 today:

UCLA improves to 51-7 on the season and will face another Pac-10 rival, Arizona State, on Friday at 6 p.m. PT on ESPN2. Arizona falls to the loser's bracket and will play Alabama on Saturday at 1 p.m.

For the 44th time this season, the Bruins scored first, also crossing home plate in their first at-bat for the 30th time to remain undefeated when doing both. Freshman Katie Schroeder chopped a pitch to Arizona's Taryne Mowatt in the circle, but she threw it high to first, allowing Schroeder to reach and advance to second. After senior Krista Colburn bunted Schroeder over to third, Kamekona singled to center to bring in the first run of the game.

Staying on the diamond, Savage's Baseball Bruins begin their own quest for a national championship. In what can only be described as a tumultuous year for the Bruins, they still find themselves in a regional with a shot at the big prize. After coming on strong at the end of the season, the baseball Bruins are feeling good about their chances.

In their final eight games, the Bruins averaged nearly seven runs a game and the pitching staff has a 2.78 earned-run average, including three shutouts.

Their late-season surge got them into the playoffs for the third consecutive season -- the first time in UCLA history that has happened.

"I hope people are overlooking us," said pitcher Gavin Brooks. "We're playing our best baseball of the season right now so if somebody overlooks us, that's just going to benefit us."

The players say they never lost confidence through the season and that performing well the last two weeks in what were essentially must-win situations has encouraged them.

It's a new season for the baseball team, and while their regular season did not match their preseason #1 ranking, their postseason can. In order to do so, they must go through their nemesis of late, Cal State Fullerton. With the competitive spirit they showed in being comeback kids over the past two weeks, I'm sure our boys wouldn't have it any other way. For today, their focus must be on Virginia, which will be shown on ESPNU at 4 PM PDT.

#103 could yet come from another team in the midst of a title hunt. Men's golf finds itself one shot off of the lead entering the third round behind Clemson and one shot ahead of SUC at the NCAA Championship.

Before we completely leave Thursday behind, I'd like to extend congratulations to Jordan Farmar and his Lakers for taking down the defending champion San Antonio Spurs last night at Staples Center and advancing to the NBA Finals (and condolences to those of you who were screwed by Sasha after putting money on the Spurs +7.5). Bruin partisans may have an interest in seeing the Detroit Pistons prevail in the Eastern Conference Finals as that would (symbolically) set up a Farmar vs. Afflalo matchup. Should that come to pass, I'm sure Ben Howland will be smiling (hint to all the top prospects out there, UCLA is where Amazing Begins).

Best of luck to ALL of our Bruins in our Friday Tripleheader.

GO BRUINS