COLLEGE SOFTBALL / NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS : Arizona Beats UCLA for Title, 5-1

Arizona got four runs and four hits off Heather Compton in 3 1/3 innings Sunday and held on to deny UCLA’s bid to win a fourth consecutive NCAA softball championship.

The Wildcats held on to win, 5-1, in the championship game of the women’s College World Series at Oklahoma City.

Earlier Sunday, the Bruins beat Fresno State, 5-1, in 13 innings behind Compton’s pitching to advance. She pitched a complete game, giving up 12 hits.

UCLA Coach Sharron Backus then decided to stick with Compton against Arizona and use Lisa Fernandez, the Bruins’ other pitcher, at third base.

The strategy backfired, and Fernandez came on in relief.

Julie Jones had three hits and two RBIs to lead the Wildcats (56-16) to their first NCAA title. UCLA finished the season with a 56-7 record, and Compton was 22-4.

The victory in the first game was the 600th of Backus’ UCLA career.