Category: Fast

1978 held at Dill Softball Center in Omaha, Nebraska on May 25-28.

Champion – UCLA Bruins (31-3)
Runner Up – Northern Colorado (24-6)

UCLA swept through the Women’s College World Series of Softball undefeated and added the title to the national basketball championship it won earlier this spring.

The Bruins stopped Northern Colorado 3-0 Monday in the title game of the 16-team Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women double-elimination tournament that was plagued by weather throughout its five-day run.

Jan Jeffers stopped the Bears in the trophy game for her third victory in the tourney. UCLA, 5-0 in the meet, got three-hit pitching from Jeffers, who struck out three and walked none. Bruin batters collected six safeties off Brooks Swanson and Lou Piel, who relieved in the third inning.

The champions got all the runs they needed when Gail Edson singled home Jeffers and Sue Enquist in the first inning. UCLA added a run in the fifth when Kathy Maurice singled and Swanson, then playing left field, erred on the pickup attempt to allow Enquist to score from second base.

Piel pitched a three-hitter earlier Monday as Northern Colorado eliminated Minnesota, 3-1. Northern Colorado finished at 5-2 and Minnesota 3-2 in the tournament.

Linda Witt contributed 3-for-3 batting as Piel won her fifth game of the tournament without a loss with the support of Northern Colorado hits.

Witt’s triple drove in two rims in a three run fourth inning and the Bears scored in the fifth when Jan Breckenridge singled home Mary Jackson.

Minnesota loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh inning and a fielder’s choice scored the Gophers’ only run before two fly balls to the infield ended the game. Vicki Swanson was the losing pitcher. The Sunday program ended after one game. Northern Colorado eliminated Texas Woman’s University 7-3 before tourney officials called a halt because of rain and a tornado threat. The funnel cloud did not touch down.

Tournament officials estimated that the total attendance for the event cleared the 10,000 spectator barrier for the first time.

• Most Outstanding Player – Sue Enquist, UCLA
• Batting Leader – Sue Enquist, UCLA (8-19) – .421
• HR Champion – N/A

1978 ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM

N/A

SCORES

1. SW Missouri State 11 Massachusetts 2
2. UCLA 4 Texas Woman’s 0
3. Arizona State 10 Portland State 0
4. Utah State 11 South Carolina 0
5. Southern Illinois 2 Stephen F. Austin 1
6. Minnesota 2 Cal St Poly-Pomona 1
7. Nebraska-Omaha 2 Illinois State 1
8. Northern Colorado 3 Oregon State 0
9. Texas Woman’s 1 Massachusetts 0
10. Portland State 10 South Carolina 7
11. Cal St Poly-Pomona 2 Stephen F. Austin 1
12. Oregon State 4 Illinois State 2
13. UCLA 1 SW Missouri State 0
14. Utah State 2 Arizona State 0
15. Minnesota 6 Southern Illinois 2
16. Northern Colorado 3 Nebraska-Omaha 2
17. Texas Woman’s 4 Nebraska-Omaha 0
18. Southern Illinois 4 Portland State 1
19. Cal St Poly-Pomona 1 Arizona State 0
20. SW Missouri State 1 Oregon State 0
21. UCLA 7 Utah State 0
22. Minnesota 4 Northern Colorado 1
23. Texas Woman’s 3 Southern Illinois 1
24. Cal St Poly-Pomona 2 SW Missouri State 1
25. Texas Woman’s 3 Utah State 0
26. Northern Colorado 4 Cal St Poly-Pomona 3
27. Northern Colorado 7 Texas Woman’s 3
28. UCLA 3 Minnesota 0
29. Northern Colorado 3 Minnesota 1
30. UCLA 3 Northern Colorado 0

FINAL STANDINGS

1. UCLA Bruins (5-0)
2. Northern Colorado Bears (5-2)
3. Minnesota Golden Gophers (3-2)
4. Texas Woman’s Tessies (4-2)
5t. Cal-State Poly-Pomona Broncos (3-2)
5t. Southern Illinois Salukis (2-2)
7t. Utah State Aggies (2-2)
7t. SW Missouri State Bears (2-2)
9t. Arizona State Sun Devils (1-2)
9t. Oregon State Beavers (1-2)
9t. Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks (1-2)
9t. Portland State Vikings (1-2)
13t. South Carolina Gamecocks (0-2)
13t. Illinois State Redbirds (0-2)
13t. Massachusetts Minutemen (0-2)
13t. Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (0-2)

1977 held at Dill Softball Center in Omaha, Nebraska on May 25-29.

Champion – Northern Iowa Panthers (30-2)
Runner Up – Arizona Wildcats

The 1977 Women’s College World Series (WCWS) was held in Omaha, Nebraska on May 25–29. Sixteen college softball teams met in the AIAW fastpitch softball tournament. This was the first WCWS in which regional tournaments were conducted for teams to qualify for the final tournament.

After appearing in three previous WCWS in 1973, 1975, and 1976, Northern Iowa won its first national championship by defeating Arizona, 7-0, in the “if necessary” game behind pitcher Pat Stockman.

Legendary Michigan head coach Carol Hutchins participated in the WCWS with Michigan State.

Paid attendance for the series was 5,251.

• MVP – N/A
• Batting Leader – Gayle Barrons, Michigan State (9-20, .450)
• HR Leader – 6 tied at 1 (Brenda Marshall, Texas-Arlington; Cindy Salisbury, West Chester; Lisa Nicholson, Southwest Missouri State; June Koleber, Kansas; Gloria Graves, Kansas; DJ Parker, Northern Iowa)

OTHERS

Venus Jennings, Northern Colorado (.428, 9-21, 4 RBI)
Carmen King, Michigan State (.421, 8-19)
Jan Nelson, Southwest Missouri State (.417, 5-12, 4 RBI)
Kathy Drickey, Nebraska-Omaha (.409, 9-22, 2 RBI)
Kristie Koenig, Cal-State Sacramento (.400, 4-10)
Barb Wahlstrom, Northern Iowa (.375, 6-16, 1 RBI)
Lisa Nelson, Southwest Missouri State (.357, 5-14, 2 RBI)
Anne Davenport, Arizona (.350, 7-20, 3 RBI)
Connie Wichman, Nebraska-Omaha (.349, 8-23, 2 RBI)
Ann Anderson, Michigan State (.333, 6-18, 3 RBI)
Pat Bromley, Nebraska-Omaha (.333, 5-15, 1 RBI)
Carol Hutchins, Michigan State (.316, 6-19, 1 RBI)
Kris McCartney, Northern Iowa (.313, 5-16, 1 RBI)
Laurie Zoodsma, Michigan State (.300, 6-20, 2 RBI)
Paula Woodworth, Kansas (.300, 3-10)
Pat Stockman, Northern Iowa (3-1, 0.00 ERA, 3 shutouts)
Lou Piel, Northern Colorado (3-1, 0.00 ERA)
Gloria Graves, Kansas (2-0, 0.00 ERA)
Melanie Kyler, Arizona State (3-2, 0.49 ERA)
Penny Clayton, Southwest Missouri State (1-1, 1.06 ERA)
Marlene McCauley, Nebraska-Omaha (3-1, 1.16 ERA)
Michelle Thomas, Northern Iowa (2-0, 1.28 ERA)
Laurel Hills, Michigan State (2-1, 1.91 ERA)
Nancy Lyons, Michigan State (2-1, 1.93 ERA)
Tonja Adreon, Arizona (1-1, 2.04 ERA)
Phyliss Schachterle, Northern Colorado (1-1, 2.04 ERA)

Most Hits (9) Gayle Barrons, Michigan State; Venus Jennings, Northern Colorado; Kathy Drickey, Nebraska-Omaha.
Most Doubles (2) Anne Davenport, Arizona
Most Triples (2) Shelly Van Drimmelen, Cal-State Sacramento
Most RBI (5) Pat Stockman, Northern Iowa
Most Stolen Bases (4) Venus Jennings, Northern Colorado

SCORES

1. Nebraska-Omaha 6 Western Illinois 0
2. Arizona 4 Texas-Arlington 3
3. Southwest Missouri State 5 Springfield College 2
4. Arizona State 2 Cal-State Sacramento 1 (9 innings)
5. Northern Iowa 3 Southern Illinois 0
6. Kansas 1 Oklahoma State 0
7. Michigan State 6 West Chester State 2
8. Northern Colorado 6 Oregon State 0
9. Arizona 7 Nebraska-Omaha 4
10. Arizona State 2 Southwest Missouri State 0
11. Northern Iowa 4 Kansas 0
12. Michigan State 5 Northern Colorado 4 (8 innings)
13. Texas-Arlington 4 Western Illinois 1 (Western Illinois eliminated)
14. Cal-State Sacramento 6 Springfield 0 (Springfield eliminated)
15. Oklahoma State 3 Southern Illinois 2 (Southern Illinois eliminated)
16. Oregon State 8 West Chester State 6 (West Chester State eliminated)
17. Arizona 1 Arizona State 0
18. Northern Iowa 7 Michigan State 3
19. Northern Iowa 1 Arizona 0 (8 innings)
20. Northern Colorado 6 Texas-Arlington 0 (Texas-Arlington eliminated)
21. Kansas 5 Cal-State Sacramento 1 (Cal-State Sacramento eliminated)
22. Southwest Missouri State 3 Oklahoma State 1 (Oklahoma State eliminated)
23. Nebraska-Omaha 6 Oregon 0 (Oregon eliminated)
24. Northern Colorado 2 Kansas 1 (Kansas eliminated)
25. Nebraska-Omaha 2 Southwest Missouri State 1 (Southwest Missouri State eliminated, 10 innings)
26. Arizona State 2 Northern Colorado (Northern Colorado eliminated)
27. Michigan State 5 Nebraska-Omaha 1 (Nebraska-Omaha eliminated)
28. Michigan State 3 Arizona State 2 (Arizona State eliminated)
29. Arizona 2 Michigan State (Michigan State eliminated)
30. Northern Colorado 3 Nebraska-Omaha 0 (5th place game)
31. Arizona 1 Northern Iowa 0 (9 innings)
32. Northern Iowa 7 Arizona 0 (Arizona eliminated)

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Northern Iowa Panthers (5-1)
2. Arizona Wildcats (5-2)
3. Michigan State Spartans (4-2)
4. Arizona State Sun Devils (3-2)
5. Northern Colorado Bears (4-2)
6. Nebraska–Omaha Mavericks (3-3)
7t. Kansas Jayhawks (2-2)
7t. Southwest Missouri State (2-2)
9t. Texas–Arlington (1-2)
9t. CSU–Sacramento (1-2)
9t. Oklahoma State Cowgirls (1-2)
9t. Oregon State Beavers (1-2)
13t. Southern Illinois (0-2)
13t. West Chester State (0-2)
13t. Springfield College (0-2)
13t. Western Illinois (0-2)

1976 held at Dill Softball Center and Al Caniglia Field in Omaha, Nebraska on May 13-16.

Champion – Michigan State Spartans (24-4)
Runner Up – Northern Colorado (19-5)

The eighth Women’s College World Series (WCWS) was held in Omaha, Nebraska on May 13–16, with nineteen college softball teams meeting in the 1976 ASA/AIAW fastpitch softball tournament. Most of the teams had won state championships. This was the last WCWS before the adoption of regional qualifying tournaments. Because college softball had not yet been separated into competitive divisions, large and small colleges competed together in one overall national championship.

Michigan State, the third-place team a year ago, won the Women’s College World Series Sunday with a 3-0 victory over the University of Northern Colorado at Al Caniglia Field.

The final day’s games were moved from Dill Field to the Astro turfed stadium at the University of Nebraska at Omaha because of rain and wet grounds.

Gloria Becksford, who pitched and won all five Michigan State tournament games. allowed Northern Colorado. 5-2 for the tournament, only three hits, all singles, in the championship game.

The three Michigan State runs were all unearned and all scored in the top of the sixth inning. Right fielder Susan Law-son opened the inning with a single and scored one out later when shortstop Carol Hutchins reached on an error.

Centerfielder Nancy Green filed out, but first-baseman Gayle Barrons and left fielder Laury Ward followed with consecutive run-scoring singles.

Earlier in the afternoon, Michigan State and Northern Colorado each defeated the defending champion University of Nebraska at Omaha.

UNO finished third and Arizona State fourth. Both had 3-2 records. Michigan State shut out UNO, 1-0, with Miss Becksford pitching a four-hitter. Then Northern Colorado defeated UNO, 3-2. avenging an earlier 3-2 loss to the Maverettes Phyllis Schachterle, who relieved in the second inning, earned the victory.

Marlene McCauley pitched both games for UNO, dripping her tournament record to 2-2. In Sunday’s first game, Arizona State defeated Tarkio College, 5-4, in a completion of a game suspended in the second inning Saturday afternoon because of rain.

Northern Colorado then eliminated Arizona State with a 13-3 victory. Venus Jennings broke that game open with a grand slam home run in the bottom of the fifth inning, the only extra-base hit all day.

• MVP – N/A
• Batting Leader – Diane Spoelstra, Michigan State (7-15, .467)
• HR Champion – N/A

OTHERS

Gloria Becksford, Michigan State (5-0, 3 straight shutouts)

ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM

N/A

SCORES

1. Minnesota 5 Oregon 1
2. Cal State-Sacramento 5 Utah 1
3. East Stroudsburg 10 South Carolina 0
4. Northern Iowa 3 Northern State 1
5. Nebraska-Omaha 10 Mayville State 0
6. Tarkio 3 Indiana State 0
7. Illinois State 7 Northwestern Oklahoma State 0
8. Northern Colorado 1 Texas-Arlington 0
9. Michigan State 2 Minnesota 1
10. Kansas defeated Cal-State Sacramento
11. Arizona State 14 East Stroudsburg 4
12. Utah 5 Northern State 1 (Northern State eliminated)
13. Oregon 11 Mayville State 0 (Mayville State eliminated)
14. South Carolina 5 Northwestern Oklahoma State 1 (Northwestern Oklahoma State eliminated)
15. Cal State-Sacramento 6 Minnesota 1 (Minnesota eliminated)
16. East Stroudsburg 4 Utah 1 (Utah eliminated)
17. Indiana State 14 Oregon 6 (Oregon eliminated)
18. Texas-Arlington 3 South Carolina 0 (South Carolina eliminated)
19. Michigan State 6 Kansas 5
20. Arizona State 2 Northern Iowa 0
21. Nebraska-Omaha 3 Tarkio 1
22. Northern Colorado 5 Illinois State 1
23. Tarkio 3 East Stroudsburg 0 (East Stroudsburg eliminated)
24. Illinois State 6 Cal State-Sacramento 3 (Cal-State Sacramento eliminated)
25. Northern Iowa 10 Indiana State 2 (Indiana State eliminated)
26. Texas-Arlington 2 Kansas 0 (Kansas eliminated)
27. Michigan State 2 Arizona State 0
28. Nebraska-Omaha 3 Northern Colorado 2
29. Tarkio 5 Illinois State (Illinois State eliminated)
30. Northern Iowa 6 Texas-Arlington 0 (Texas-Arlington eliminated)
31. Arizona State 5 Tarkio 4 (Tarkio eliminated)
32. Northern Colorado 1 Northern Iowa 0 (Northern Iowa eliminated)
33. Michigan State 1 Nebraska-Omaha 0
34. Northern Colorado 13 Arizona State 3 (Arizona State eliminated)
35. Northern Colorado 3 Nebraska-Omaha 2 (Nebraska-Omaha eliminated)
36. Michigan State 3 Northern Colorado 0 (Northern Colorado eliminated)

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Michigan State Spartans (5-0)
2. Northern Colorado Bears (5-2)
3. Nebraska–Omaha Mavericks (3-2)
4t. Arizona State Sun Devils (3-2)
5t. Tarkio College Owls (3-2)
5t. Northern Iowa Panthers (3-2)
7t. Illinois State Redbirds (2-2)
7t. Texas–Arlington Mavericks (2-2)
9t. East Stroudsburg State Warriors (2-2)
9t. Cal State–Sacramento Hornets (2-2)
9t. Kansas Jayhawks (1-2)
9t. Indiana State Sycamores (1-2)
13t. Utah Runnin’ Utes (1-2)
13t. Oregon Ducks (1-2)
13t. South Carolina Gamecocks (1-2)
13t. Minnesota Golden Gophers (1-2)
17t. Northwestern Oklahoma State (0-2)
17t. Northern State Wolves (0-2)
17t. Mayville State Comets (0-2)

1975 held at Dill Softball Complex in Omaha, Nebraska on May 15-18.

Champion – Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks (17-7)
Runner Up – Northern Iowa Panthers

Connie Claussen, the tournament director for the first eleven editions of the WCWS, was also the coach of the victorious Nebraska–Omaha team.

The University of Nebraska at Omaha won the seventh annual Women’s College Softball World Series Sunday by defeating the University of Northern Iowa 6-4 in a playoff game.

UNO defeated Northern Iowa 1-0 in a Saturday game but the Iowans, after ousting Michigan 7-3, defeated the Mavericks 11-1 Sunday to set up the playoff game in the double elimination tourney. Defending champion Southwest Missouri State failed to reach the tournament.

• MVP – N/A
• Batting Leader – Chris Thoronock, Weber St. (9-10, .900)
• HR Champion – N/A

OTHERS

Julie Wolfe, Nebraska-Omaha (3-1, 2 shutouts)
Pat Linson, Nebraska-Omaha (.333)
Kathy Dickey, Nebraska-Omaha (.455, 5-11)
Judy Melius, Nebraska-Omaha (.385, 5-13)
Mickey Gehringer (.348, 8-23)

SCORES

1. Western Oregon 6 Texas Woman’s 2
2. East Stroudsburg 8 Ohio 0
3. Nebraska-Omaha 18 Northern State 0
4. Northern Colorado 1 North Dakota State 0
5. Western Illinois 1 Mankato State 0
6. Kansas 6 Weber State 2
7. Michigan State 3 Northwest Missouri State 1
8. Northern Iowa 5 Oklahoma 0
9. Western Oregon 14 Ball State 9
10. Arizona 4 East Stroudsburg 3
11. Texas Woman’s 9 Oklahoma 2 (Oklahoma eliminated)
12. Ohio 10 Mankato State 2 (Mankato State eliminated)
13. Weber State 7 East Stroudsburg 6 (East Stroudsburg eliminated)
14. Ball State 6 Northern State 2 (Northern State eliminated)
15. Northwest Missouri State 14 Texas Woman’s (Texas Woman’s eliminated)
16. Ohio 6 North Dakota State 1 (North Dakota State eliminated)
17. Nebraska-Omaha 1 Western Oregon 0
18. Western Illinois 5 Northern Colorado 4
19. Kansas 4 Arizona 3
20. Northern Iowa 4 Michigan State 3
21. Northern Colorado 6 Northwest Missouri State 0 (Northwest Missouri State eliminated)
22. Western Oregon 8 Weber State 7 (Weber State eliminated)
23. Michigan State 17 Ohio 0 (Ohio eliminated)
24. Arizona 10 Ball State 4 (Ball State eliminated)
25. Nebraska-Omaha 4 Western Illinois 2
26. Northern Iowa 4 Kansas 1
27. Northern Colorado 1 Western Oregon 0 (Western Oregon eliminated)
28. Michigan State 3 Arizona 2 (Arizona eliminated)
29. Northern Colorado 6 Kansas 0 (Kansas eliminated)
30. Michigan State 5 Western Illinois 0 (Western Illinois eliminated)
31. Nebraska-Omaha 1 Northern Iowa 0
32. Michigan State 4 Northern Colorado 3 (Northern Colorado eliminated)
33. Northern Iowa 7 Michigan State 3 (Michigan State eliminated)
34. Northern Iowa 11 Nebraska-Omaha 1
35. Nebraska-Omaha 6 Northern Iowa 4 (Northern Iowa eliminated)

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Nebraska–Omaha Maverettes (5-1)
2. Northern Iowa Panthers (5-2)
3. Michigan State Spartans (5-2)
4. Northern Colorado Bears (4-2)
5t. Kansas Jayhawks (2-2)
5t. Western Illinois Leathernecks (2-2)
7t. Western Oregon Wolves (3-2)
7t. Arizona Wildcats (2-2)
9t. Weber State Wildcats (1-2)
9t. Northwest Missouri State Bearcats (1-2)
9t. Ball State Cardinals (1-2)
9t. Ohio Bobcats (2-2)
13t. Texas Woman’s Pioneers (1-2)
13t. North Dakota State Bison (0-2)
13t. East Stroudsburg State Warriors (1-2)
13t. Northern State Wolves (0-2)
17t. Oklahoma Sooners (0-2)
17t. Mankato State Mavericks (0-2)

1974 held at Dill Softball Center, UNO Football Stadium, and Churchich Field in Omaha, Nebraska on May 16-19.

Champion – Southwest Missouri State Bears (28-4)
Runner Up – Northern Colorado Bears (19-2)

Sharon Williams pitched Northern Colorado to two victories in the Women’s Softball College World Series Sunday but Southwest Missouri got to her for eight runs in the first inning to take the championship, 14-7.

The Greeley, Colo., team won a late Saturday night contest 1-0 over Indiana, then defeated Kansas 18-0 and Wayne State 9-8 in eight innings to meet undefeated Southwest Missouri State in the double elimination tourney.

Southwest Missouri State succeeds last year’s champion Arizona State which did not qualify for the sixth annual tournament this year.

• MVP – N/A
• Batting Leader – Gail Gault, Arizona (.444, 8-18)
• HR Champion – N/A

OTHERS

Cindy Henderson, SW Missouri St. (5-0)

ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM

N/A

SCORES

1. Luther 4 North Dakota State 1
2. Kansas 10 Winona State 0
3. Luther 2 Nassau CC 0
4. Southwest Missouri State 11 Massachusetts 1
5. Eastern Illinois 10 South Carolina 0
6. Indiana State 10 South Dakota State 0
7. Wayne State 4 Michigan State 3
8. Arizona 16 West Georgia 0
9. Northern Colorado 7 Weber State 2
10. Kansas 2 Golden West 1
11. Michigan State 1 North Dakota State 0 (North Dakota State eliminated)
12. South Dakota State 5 Winona State 1 (Winona State eliminated)
13. Weber State 5 Golden West 0 (Golden West eliminated)
14. Massachusetts 7 Nassau CC 0 (Nassau CC eliminated)
15. Michigan State 6 West Georgia 2 (West Georgia eliminated)
16. South Dakota State 2 South Carolina 1 (South Carolina eliminated)
17. Southwest Missouri State 1 Luther 0
18. Eastern Illinois 9 Indiana State 0
19. Wayne State 2 Arizona 0
20. Northern Colorado 1 Kansas 0
21. Indiana State 4 Michigan State 2 (Michigan State eliminated)
22. Luther 5 Weber State 2 (Weber State eliminated)
23. Arizona 18 South Dakota State 0 (South Dakota State eliminated)
24. Kansas 13 Massachusetts 3 (Massachusetts eliminated)
25. Southwest Missouri State 9 Eastern Illinois 8
26. Wayne State 23 Northern Colorado 7
27. Indiana State 3 Luther 2 (Luther eliminated)
28. Kansas 8 Arizona 1 (Arizona eliminated)
29. Northern Colorado 1 Indiana State 0 (Indiana State eliminated)
30. Kansas 2 Eastern Illinois (Eastern Illinois eliminated)
31. Southwest Missouri State 8 Wayne State 5
32. Northern Colorado 18 Kansas 0 (Kansas eliminated)
33. Northern Colorado 9 Wayne State 8 (Wayne State eliminated)
34. Southwest Missouri State 14 Northern Colorado 7 (Northern Colorado eliminated)

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Southwest Missouri State Bears (5-0)
2. Northern Colorado Bears (5-2)
3. Wayne State Wildcats (3-2)
4. Kansas Jayhawks (5-2)
5t. Eastern Illinois Panthers (2-2)
5t. Indiana State Sycamores (3-2)
7t. Arizona Wildcats (2-2)
7t. Luther Norse (3-2)
9t. Michigan State Spartans (2-2)
9t. South Dakota State Jackrabbits (2-2)
9t. Massachusetts Minutemen (1-2)
9t. Weber State Wildcats (1-2)
13t. West Georgia Wolves (0-2)
13t. South Carolina Gamecocks (0-2)
13t. Golden West Rustlers (0-2)
13t. North Dakota State Bison (0-2)
17t. Winona State Warriors (0-2)
17t. Nassau Community College Lions (0-2)