Tuesday, May 26, 1998
Fresno State wins
Associated Press
first NCAA crownOKLAHOMA CITY -- Arizona had almost everything going for it as it went into yesterday's national softball title game against Fresno State with an NCAA-record 67 victories and just three losses.
The Wildcats just didn't have much of an offense as Amanda Scott held them to three singles and Nina Lindenberg hit a home run to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 victory and the national title.
"We definitely don't feel that we're invincible," said Arizona coach Mike Candrea. "I hate that word, because I don't think there's anyone in this country or this world that's invincible."
The Wildcats hadn't been scored on in the postseason, had won five of the last seven national titles, and beat Fresno State (52-11) three times during the regular season.
"No question UCLA and Arizona have dominated for a long time. It's nice to be one of the little schools that come through and win it," said Fresno State coach Margie Wright.
"Hopefully it will send a message that other people can do the same thing. I don't know if you can understand how long it's taken for us to hear that. These kids were awesome today."
Lindenberg led off the sixth inning by hitting the first pitch from Nancy Evans (36-2) over the left-field fence. The homer snapped Evans' streak of scoreless innings at 38.
"To get that run, that's all we needed," said Scott, who was named the Series MVP. "Good Lord, Nina sent that pitch."
The homer also was the only run the Wildcats allowed in seven games during the NCAA tournament and ended their 29-game winning streak.
Lindenberg's homer was her 13th of the season and third hit of the game.
Arizona managed just three singles off Scott (25-4).
The title was Fresno State's first after playing in four previous championship games, most recently a 2-0 loss to UCLA in 1990.
