One-Hitter Stops Northridge in Title Game : Softball: Parra pitches top-ranked Arizona to victory in Women’s College World Series.

Arizona ace Susie Parra threw a one-hitter and faced just two batters over the minimum Monday to pace the Wildcats to a 4-0 victory over Cal State Northridge in the championship game of the Women’s College World Series in front of 3,966 at Hall of Fame Stadium.

Arizona (64-3), which remained top-ranked throughout the season, scored a single run in each of the first three innings and never let third-ranked Northridge (52-10) into the game.

Parra surrendered a two-out double to Beth Calcante in the first inning, but struck out Tamara Ivie to end the inning.

Parra, who struck out 13, retired 18 consecutive batters after Calcante’s double. With two out in the seventh, Ivie drew a full-count walk. Parra however, struck out Scia Maumausoloon four pitches to end it.

“We are happy to be here after all that has happened this year,” Northridge Coach Gary Torgeson said. “But I have to give Susie Parra credit because she changed speeds well and had everything going today.”

It was the third national title in four years for the Wildcats, who defeated UCLA in the final last season. Arizona could remain on top for quite a while. Only two starters--Parra (33-1) and third baseman Susie Duarte--are seniors.

“Today it was all Susie Parra,” Arizona Coach Mike Candrea said. “To go out after four years like she did with a one-hitter is incredible. To have three national titles in her four years, somebody ought to take a look at what she has done.”

Pitching a one-hitter against a team that has batted better than .300 all season surprised Parra.

“My changeup was working good and we kept them guessing,” she said. “But I was shocked to end the year like that.”

Arizona, which was batting .409 as a team in the tournament, had seven hits off Jennifer Richardson (9-1) in four innings. Amy Windmiller came on in relief in the fifth and retired all six batters she faced.