2001 NCAA Division I softball tournament


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. [2001 2001 Arizona Wildcats softball team|Arizona Wildcats softball team|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.

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.
  • Arizona defeated Texas Tech, 8–0. 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.
  • ' defeated, 3–1.
  • ' defeated, 2–0.
Loser's Bracket
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.
UCLA advances to WCWS.

Regional No. 3

Opening Round
  • ' defeated, 8–0.
  • ' 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. Chattanooga eliminated.
Semifinals and Finals
  • Michigan defeated South Florida, 6–2.
  • 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
Semifinals and Finals
  • Washington defeated UMass, 8–0.
  • Oklahoma defeated North Carolina, 13–0. 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.
  • defeated, 4–0.
Loser's Bracket
  • Hofstra defeated BYU, 4–2. BYU eliminated.
  • Central Michigan defeated Hofstra, 10–0. Hofstra eliminated.
Semifinals and Finals
  • Nebraska defeated Pacific, 2–1.
  • 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.
Stanford advances to WCWS.

Regional No. 7

Opening Round
  • ' defeated, 8–0.
  • ' defeated, 2–1.
  • defeated, 3–2.
Loser's Bracket
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. 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.
California advances to WCWS.

Women's College World Series

Participants

SchoolConferenceRecordHead coachWCWS appearances†
ArizonaPac-1062–4Mike Candrea14
Pac-1053–16Diane Ninemire6
Big Ten47–11Gayle Blevins4
SEC57–9Yvette Girouard1
Big Ten43–15–1Carol Hutchins5
Big 1250–7Patty Gasso2
Pac-1052–14–1John Rittman1
UCLAPac-1059–5Sue Enquist18*

*: 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

DateGameWinnerScoreLoserNotes
5/24/2001Game 1Arizona3 - 2
5/24/2001Game 22 - 0
5/24/2001Game 32 - 18 Innings
5/24/2001Game 4UCLA2 - 0
5/25/2001Game 5Arizona5 - 48 Innings
5/25/2001Game 6UCLA5 - 0
5/26/2001Game 75 - 2Michigan eliminated
5/26/2001Game 82 - 1Iowa eliminated
5/26/2001Game 91 - 0California eliminated
5/26/2001Game 102 - 113 Innings

Oklahoma eliminated
5/27/2001Game 11Arizona1 - 0Stanford eliminated

If Necessary Game not necessary
5/27/2001Game 12UCLA6 - 0LSU eliminated

If Necessary Game not necessary
5/27/2001Game 13------Arizona /

If Necessary Game not necessary
5/27/2001Game 14------UCLA /

If Necessary Game not necessary
5/28/2001Championship gameArizona1 - 0UCLAArizona Wins 2001 WCWS

Championship game

SchoolTop BatterStats.
ArizonaLindsey Collins 1-3 RBI HR K
UCLAAmanda Freed 1-3 BB

SchoolPitcherIPHRERBBSOABBF
ArizonaJennie Finch 7.0400272426
UCLAAmanda Freed 7.0311462529

All-Tournament Team

The following players were members of the All-Tournament Team:
PositionPlayerClassSchool
PitcherAmanda FreedJuniorUCLA
PitcherBritni SneedJuniorLSU
PitcherJennifer StewartJuniorOklahoma
CatcherLindsey CollinsSeniorArizona
1st BaseTairia MimsSophomoreUCLA
3rd BaseToni MascarenasSeniorArizona
3rd BaseJulie WieseFreshmanLSU
OutfieldNicole GiordanoSeniorArizona
OutfieldJessica MendozaJuniorStanford
OutfieldChristy RingJuniorOklahoma
Designated HitterClaire SuaFreshmanUCLA
Most Outstanding PlayerJennie FinchJuniorArizona