May 9, 1998

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Led by senior pitcher Nancy Evans, who threw a no-hitter in game one and belted a solo homer in game two, the No. 1 ranked University of Arizona softball team defeated UCLA 2-0 and 6-0 Saturday, in a doubleheader at UCLA's Easton Softball Stadium.

Evans, whose game-one no-hitter was her third this season and fifth of her career, allowed just two Bruins to reach base, while striking out four in seven complete innings of work.

Midway through game one, Arizona got on the board in the fifth inning when Alison McCutcheon got things started with a one-out single. She stole second and eventually stole third on a double steal following a Nicole Giordano single. With runners in scoring position, Toni Mascarenas notched a two-RBI single, putting the Wildcats up 2-0. That was all Arizona would needs as Evans retired nine of the next 10 Bruin batters, en route to the game-one victory.

The Wildcats wasted no time getting on the board in game two, as Lauren Bauer and Toni Mascarenas registered back-to-back singles in the top of the first, putting runners on first and second with one out. That opened the door for the nation's leading home run hitter Leah Braatz, who knocked out her 24th this season on a three-run shot off Bruin starter Erin Weiler. Evans, who was the designated player in game two, followed that up with a home run of her own, giving Arizona an early 4-0 advantage. Leticia Pineda was the third Wildcat to homer on the day when she hit a two-run shot in the top of the third.

Led by Bruin second baseman Laurie Fritz, who was 2-for-3, UCLA was more successful in game two, notching four hits off Arizona starter Becky Lemke. Lemke, however, didn't allow a runner to cross home plate as she improved to 23-2 with the 6-0 victory.

UCLA (17-26 overall; 7-17 Pac-10) rounds out the 1998 season tomorrow when it hosts No. 16 Arizona State for a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. Arizona (59-3; 25-1 Pac-10) heads up to Washington for a Sunday doubleheader with the Huskies.