Natasha Watley - UCLA Bruins

UCLA Bruins

In 2001, Watley earned status by being named a First Team All-American as well as All Pac-10. She stole 32 bases to break the school record, which now ranks fourth all-time at UCLA.

On May 13, Watley was a perfect 4/4 with 2 RBIs and a double against the Oregon Ducks for a career high in single game hits. On May 18, she stole a record 4 bases to break another school record vs. the Canisius Golden Griffins.

Watley and the Bruins made it into the Women's College World Series finals vs. the Oklahoma Sooners. Watley was perfect against Jennifer Stewart, going 3/3 and scoring the only run in the Bruins eventual 3–1 defeat on May 29.

Watley repeated all-season honors for a second straight year. She set school records with 75 runs and 56 stolen bases, while her season total hits were second all-time.

Beginning March 2 through April 29, 2001, she managed a 32-consecutive-game hit streak, which is the fifth longest in NCAA history. The streak stretched to 36 games overall beginning on February 17; the Bruins had a week off prior to April 29. In that span, Watley batted .426 (55/129) with 14 RBI, a home run, three triples and doubles each.

Once again on May 28, Watley found herself in the WCWS National Championship game vs. conference rival the Arizona Wildcats. Watley had one of 4 hits off MVP and eventual victor Jennie Finch.

The streak of three First Team All-American and All Pac-10 honors continued as the junior also broke the school record for hits in a season (112), which also led the NCAA Division I. Her triples and stolen bases were second best all-time, while her career-best .485 average ranked 4th (5th all-time) at UCLA.

Notching her second-longest streak, Watley began a 29-consecutive-game hit streak on February 1 until March 9. Watley hit .543 (56/103) and had 24 RBIs, two home runs, three triples and 7 doubles. She also had a slugging percentage of .747% and overall her streak was 6th best for the NCAA.

Watley was named to the WCWS All-Tournament Team, hitting over .450 for the Bruins.

Again earning a place on the All-American team, she added the 2003 Pac-10 "Player of The Year" and the Honda Broderick Cup for "Best Collegiate Female Athlete" and "Best Collegiate Softball Player." Watley ranked top-10 in school season categories of batting average, hits, on-base percentage and stolen bases.

From January 31 to February 31, she had her third-longest hit streak at 19 consecutive games. She hit .500 (30/60) with 21 RBIs, two home runs, a triple and 4 doubles. On April 30, Watley batted in a career-high 5 RBIs on two home runs to defeat the Washington Huskies.

At the year's WCWS, Watley was again named to the All-Tournament Team, batting over .400 with 3 RBIs and slugging over .550%. The Bruins made it into their third finale with Watley and claimed the no-hit win over Kelly Anderson and the California Golden Bears on May 26. Watley went 2/5 with a triple.

In her four years as a starter for the Bruins, she finished tops in career hits, triples, runs and stolen bases. She ranked second in career batting average (.450) and top-10 in doubles, slugging and on-base percentages. Watley holds the single-season record for hits (112) and is currently ranked fourth in Pac-10 history. Watley is listed seventh on the all-time NCAA record books with 115 hits in a single season. She was also the first UCLA Bruin to have two 100+ hit seasons.

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