The 2001 NCAA Division I softball tournament was the twentieth annual tournament to determine the national champion of NCAA women's collegiate softball. Held during May 2001, forty-eight Division I college softball teams contested the championship. The tournament featured eight regionals of six teams, each in a double elimination format. The 2001 Women's College World Series was held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma from May 24 through May 28 and marked the conclusion of the 2001 NCAA Division I softball season. Arizona won their sixth NCAA championship by defeating UCLA 1–0 in the final game. Arizona pitcher Jennie Finch was named Women's College World Series Most Outstanding Player.

Qualifying

Regionals

Regional No. 1 Opening Round Arizona defeated , 4–2 defeated , 1–0 defeated , 2–1

Loser's Bracket Texas Tech defeated Saint Peter's, 3–2. Saint Peter's eliminated. Texas Tech defeated Hawaii, 4–2. Hawaii eliminated.

Semifinals and Finals Cal State Fullerton defeated Texas State, 10–1 (5 innings). Arizona defeated Texas Tech, 8–0 (6 innings). Texas Tech eliminated Arizona defeated Texas State, 6–2. Texas State defeated Cal State Fullerton, 4–3. Arizona defeated Cal State Fullerton, 5–4.

Arizona advances to WCWS.

Regional No. 2 Opening Round UCLA defeated , 8–0 (5 innings). defeated , 3–1 (9 innings). defeated , 2–0.

Loser's Bracket Fresno State defeated Coastal Carolina, 6–4. Coastal Carolina eliminated. Cal State Northridge defeated Fresno State, 3–1. Fresno State eliminated.

Semifinals and Finals San Diego State defeated Wisconsin, 1–0. UCLA defeated Cal State Northridge, 9–0. Cal State Northridge eliminated. UCLA defeated San Diego State, 3–1. San Diego State defeated Wisconsin, 6–1. Wisconsin eliminated. UCLA defeated San Diego State, 11–0 (5 innings).

UCLA advances to WCWS.

Regional No. 3 Opening Round defeated , 8–0 (6 innings). defeated , 4–1. defeated , 5–1.

Loser's Bracket Penn State defeated Cornell, 5–0. Cornell eliminated. Penn State defeated Southern Miss, 1–0. Southern Miss eliminated.

Semifinals and Finals Arizona State defeated Louisiana–Lafayette, 2–1. LSU defeated Penn State, 2–1. Penn State eliminated. LSU defeated Arizona State, 3–2. Louisiana–Lafayette defeated Arizona State, 5–0. Arizona State eliminated. LSU defeated Louisiana–Lafayette, 2–1.

LSU advances to WCWS.

Regional No. 4 Opening Round defeated , 8–2. defeated , 1–0. defeated , 2–1.

Loser's Bracket Chattanooga defeated UIC, 5–2. UIC eliminated. Oregon State defeated Chattanooga, 13–0 (5 innings). Chattanooga eliminated.

Semifinals and Finals Michigan defeated South Florida, 6–2 (13 innings). Alabama defeated Oregon State, 1–0. Oregon State eliminated. Michigan defeated Alabama, 3–2. South Florida defeated Alabama, 3–2. Alabama eliminated. Michigan defeated South Florida, 12–5.

Michigan advances to WCWS.

Regional No. 5 Opening Round defeated , 9–2. defeated , 6–0. defeated , 4–2.

Loser's Bracket Lehigh defeated Seton Hall, 2–0. Seton Hall eliminated. North Carolina defeated Lehigh, 4–0. Lehigh eliminated.

Semifinals and Finals Washington defeated UMass, 8–0 (5 innings). Oklahoma defeated North Carolina, 13–0 (5 innings). North Carolina eliminated. Oklahoma defeated Washington, 3–2. Washington defeated UMass, 7–1. UMass eliminated. Oklahoma defeated Washington, 10–2.

Oklahoma advances to WCWS.

Regional No. 6 Opening Round defeated , 3–1. defeated , 8–0 (6 innings). defeated , 4–0.

Loser's Bracket Hofstra defeated BYU, 4–2. BYU eliminated. Central Michigan defeated Hofstra, 10–0 (5 innings). Hofstra eliminated.

Semifinals and Finals Nebraska defeated Pacific, 2–1 (8 innings). Stanford defeated Central Michigan, 6–0. Central Michigan eliminated. Stanford defeated Nebraska, 5–1. Pacific defeated Nebraska, 3–1. Nebraska eliminated. Pacific defeated Stanford, 2–0. Stanford defeated Pacific, 9–1 (5 innings).

Stanford advances to WCWS.

Regional No. 7 Opening Round defeated , 8–0 (5 innings). defeated , 2–1. defeated , 3–2 (9 innings).

Loser's Bracket Illinois State defeated Western Illinois, 4–0. Western Illinois eliminated. Illinois State defeated South Carolina, 1–0. South Carolina eliminated.

Semifinals and Finals Iowa defeated DePaul, 7–4. Notre Dame defeated Illinois State, 2–1. Illinois State eliminated. Iowa defeated Notre Dame, 6–0. Notre Dame defeated DePaul, 8–1. DePaul eliminated. Iowa defeated Notre Dame, 6–2.

Iowa advances to WCWS.

Regional No. 8 Opening Round defeated , 6–2. defeated , 2–0. defeated Florida, 3–0.

Loser's Bracket Connecticut defeated Bethune–Cookman, 2–1. Bethune–Cookman eliminated. Florida defeated Connecticut, 8–0 (5 innings). Connecticut eliminated.

Semifinals and Finals California defeated Florida Atlantic, 2–0. Florida State defeated Florida, 6–2. Florida eliminated. California defeated Florida State, 1–0. Florida State defeated Florida Atlantic, 2–0. Florida Atlantic eliminated. Florida State defeated California, 2–1. California defeated Florida State, 3–2 (10 innings).

California advances to WCWS.

Women's College World Series

Participants

School Conference Record Head coach WCWS appearances† (Including 2001 WCWS) Arizona Pac-10 62–4 Mike Candrea 14 Pac-10 53–16 Diane Ninemire 6 Big Ten 47–11 Gayle Blevins 4 SEC 57–9 Yvette Girouard 1 Big Ten 43–15–1 Carol Hutchins 5 Big 12 50–7 Patty Gasso 2 Pac-10 52–14–1 John Rittman 1 UCLA Pac-10 59–5 Sue Enquist 18*

*: Excludes UCLA's vacated 1995 WCWS participation. †: Excludes results of the pre-NCAA Women's College World Series of 1969 through 1981.

Results

Bracket

Game results

Date Game Winner Score Loser Notes 5/24/2001 Game 1 Arizona 3 - 2 Game 2 2 - 0 Game 3 2 - 1 8 Innings Game 4 UCLA 2 - 0 5/25/2001 Game 5 Arizona 5 - 4 8 Innings Game 6 UCLA 5 - 0 5/26/2001 Game 7 5 - 2 Michigan eliminated Game 8 2 - 1 Iowa eliminated Game 9 1 - 0 California eliminated Game 10 2 - 1 13 Innings Oklahoma eliminated 5/27/2001 Game 11 Arizona 1 - 0 Stanford eliminated If Necessary Game (Game 13) not necessary Game 12 UCLA 6 - 0 LSU eliminated If Necessary Game (Game 14) not necessary Game 13 -- -- -- Arizona / If Necessary Game (Game 13) not necessary Game 14 -- -- -- UCLA / If Necessary Game (Game 14) not necessary 5/28/2001 Championship game Arizona 1 - 0 UCLA Arizona Wins 2001 WCWS

Championship game

School Top Batter Stats. Arizona Lindsey Collins (C) 1-3 RBI HR K UCLA Amanda Freed (P) 1-3 BB

School Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO AB BF Arizona Jennie Finch (W) 7.0 4 0 0 2 7 24 26 UCLA Amanda Freed (L) 7.0 3 1 1 4 6 25 29

All-Tournament Team The following players were members of the All-Tournament Team: Position Player Class School Pitcher Amanda Freed Junior UCLA Britni Sneed Junior LSU Jennifer Stewart Junior Oklahoma Catcher Lindsey Collins Senior Arizona 1st Base Tairia Mims Sophomore UCLA 3rd Base Toni Mascarenas Senior Arizona Julie Wiese Freshman LSU Outfield Nicole Giordano Senior Arizona Jessica Mendoza Junior Stanford Christy Ring Junior Oklahoma Designated Hitter Claire Sua Freshman UCLA Most Outstanding Player Jennie Finch Junior Arizona

References