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Senior Toria Auelua led off the seventh inning in Sunday’s second game for the Bruins, an i

OKLAHOMA CITY — Capturing the NCAA softball championship with a 1-0, nine-inning victory over Cal had to be exciting for UCLA.

Then again, heart-stopping moments were the norm for the Bruins in this title run – none more dramatic than their semifinal win over Texas on Saturday night.

With one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, UCLA found itself down 1-0 with Cat Osterman, the USA Softball Player of the Year, in the circle. It looked like the 2003 senior class would be the first not to win a national championship.

The UCLA offense came alive.

The Bruins received clutch hits from senior Natasha Watley and freshman Caitlin Benyi as they climbed from the depths of defeat to beat the Longhorns 2-1 on their way to the program’s ninth national championship.

“I’m just thrilled. That win just says so much about this team and its ability to never give up,” UCLA head coach Sue Enquist said. “That has been what they have represented all year, and everybody got to see what Bruin softball is truly all about.”

The rally started with one out when senior second baseman Monique Mejia hit a ball to the left of Texas third baseman Wynter Turner that Turner could not glove, allowing Mejia to reach first base on an infield hit.

Next up was the No. 9 hitter, freshman left fielder Andrea Duran, who laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to advance Mejia to second base.

With two outs, first base open and All-American shortstop Watley up, Texas coach Connie Clark made the surprising decisions not to walk intentionally Watley and pitch to Benyi, who had struck out three times in three at-bats against Osterman.

“It never crossed my mind. We didn’t want to put the winning run on for free, and after seeing her earlier today, we felt like Cat could go right at her.” Clark said.

Cat did go right at her, and Watley hit a ball right back up the middle that eluded Texas shortstop Chez Sievers. Mejia beat the throw home to tie the game, and Watley moved to second base on the throw.

Benyi, the UCLA right fielder, had the chance to put UCLA in the championship game and lined her second pitch from Osterman into right field.

“I was just looking to put the ball in play, especially with Natasha on base. Anything that would make her run her the bases because that’s what we like to see,” Benyi said.

Texas right fielder Sarah Wieszczak double-pumped and threw to home, and Watley slid around catcher Marlo Hanks to score the winning run and complete the improbable comeback.