UCLA senior All-American Keira Goerl, the Most Valuable Player of the 2003 Women’s College World Series, fired a two-hit shutout with a season-high 11 strikeouts as the Bruins halted Tennessee’s winning streak at nine games with a 3-0 decision on Friday night at the Palm Springs Classic. The squads endured an 85-minute rain delay and then switched fields at the Big League Dreams Sports Park in order to complete the contest. Top-ranked UCLA improved to 11-0 overall, while the 12th-rated Lady Vols dropped to 12-2 with their first setback since falling to No. 23 Oregon State, 2-0, at the Paradise Classic on Feb. 7.
“I think that this is a game that we can learn a lot from,” said Co-Head Coach Ralph Weekly. “UCLA is as billed, the number one team in the nation. Our kids played hard but we never adjusted to their pitcher. That, and a couple of mental errors, cost us a couple of runs and put the game further out of reach. Our kids learned through this game that they need to focus on every play and play their best self all the time. This was the best game I have seen Stacey (Jennings) throw this year. I was amazed at her control of pitches, especially her change-up. She was on all night and deserved to come out a winner.”
Sophomore Caitlin Benyi led off the bottom of the first by taking sophomore Stacey Jennings’ 2-2 offering over the right field fence for a quick 1-0 Bruin advantage. The Lady Vol right-hander would go on to keep UCLA off the scoreboard until a defensive mistake later foreshadowed two unearned runs coming across in the third.
In the third stanza, Jennings fanned freshman Tara Henry before issuing a free pass to Benyi. After inducing a pop-up from sophomore Andrea Duran, an attempt at an inning-ending double play went awry, allowing Benyi to reach second base. Senior Stephanie Ramos and senior All-American Claire Sua then delivered consecutive RBI hits, a single and double, respectively, to provide the Bruins with a three-run cushion.
The Lady Vols’ lone hits came courtesy of freshman Lindsay Schutzler, who extended her hitting streak to six game with a single in the fourth inning, and senior Amber Rhinehart, who poked a knock into right field to open the seventh.
Jennings (1-2) surrendered five hits, struck out four Bruins and gave up only one earned en route to her third complete-game effort of the campaign. Her counterpart, Goerl, improved to 6-0 with her third shutout of 2004.

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