COLLEGE SOFTBALL : UCLA Sweeps CS Fullerton

The defending national champion UCLA softball team defeated Cal State Fullerton, 1-0, Saturday at UCLA’s Sunset Field and advanced to the NCAA College World Series.

Nicole Anderson, pinch-running in the fourth inning for Lisa Fernandez, who had singled, went to second on Kristy Howard’s sacrifice and scored on Jennifer Brundage’s single.

Fernandez (29-1) gave up four hits and struck out four in seven innings. Tiffany Boyd (19-13) gave up four hits and struck out three in seven innings for Fullerton. Boyd, a senior, transferred to Fullerton from UCLA in 1990.

It was the final home game of Fernandez’s career, but she said that didn’t affect her play.

“I was just playing the game hoping we were going to get that road to nationals,” said Fernandez, who will lead the Bruins in their quest for an eighth NCAA title in 12 years.

There were complaints from both top-seeded UCLA (46-3) and 15th-seeded Fullerton (37-21) about being paired for the playoff series because both teams felt they deserved to face lower-seeded teams in regional play of the 20-team tournament.

“You’re not going to see many teams as talented as a Fullerton at nationals,” Fernandez said.

The Bruins defeated the Titans, 2-1, in the first game of the best-of-three series on Friday.

The College World Series will be held May 27-31 at Oklahoma City, Okla.

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A two-run home run by freshman Scia Maumausolo gave Cal State Northridge (46-6-1) a 2-1 victory over Fresno State (37-23) in the first game of a best-of-three regional NCAA series at Northridge.

--WENDY WITHERSPOON