A seismic power shift took place in Division I softball when Michigan became the first team east of the Mississippi River to take the championship trophy.

The Wolverines, who have been ranked No. 1 in the national polls most of the season, completed the historic first by rallying to defeat two-time defending champion UCLA in the best-of-three championship final of the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City June 8.

Michigan freshman first baseman Samantha Findlay's three-run home run in the top of the 10th was the winning blow as the Wolverines downed UCLA, 4-1, to take the series, 2-1.

Findlay, who became the first freshman position player to be named the series' most outstanding player, drove in all four of her team's runs in the deciding game. She batted .409 with four extra-base hits and eight RBI in Michigan's seven Women's College World Series games.

The Wolverines (65-7) lost the first game of the final series, 5-0, but forced a deciding game by rallying from a two-run deficit to win Game 2 by a 5-2 count.

This is the first year that the Women's College World Series has used the best-of-three format for the finals.

"We didn't care if we were from the East," said the Wolverines' senior shortstop Jessica Merchant. "We just wanted to play great softball. We played Michigan softball. It's great for the Big Ten, it's great for everyone."

Michigan's season began February 11 with a tournament in Las Vegas, and because of the climate in Michigan during February and March, the Wolverines remained on the road for their first 33 games.

Michigan proved its worth by winning 32 of those contests, sending a clear message about being the team to beat.

"I have to admit when we got that No. 1 ranking my biggest concern was staying the course, finishing the season and getting here, because that is often your hardest challenge," said Michigan coach Carol Hutchins. "Getting here was hard, and winning here was really hard. < For us to be the champion, I don't think there's a word for it."

The Wolverines lost once on their way to the championship series -- to Tennessee in an 11-inning game that ended after 1 a.m. The 2-0 loss was the only time Michigan had been shut out all year. UCLA, meanwhile, swept through its side of the bracket with wins over California, Tennessee and Texas.

In the third game of the championship series, UCLA took the initial lead thanks to a solo homer by first baseman Lisa Dodd off Michigan pitcher Jennie Ritter in the bottom of the second inning.

Bruins freshman pitcher Anjelica Selden made the lead stand up until the top of the sixth, when Michigan loaded the bases courtesy of two singles and a walk. Findlay tied the game with a single to right field.

The Wolverines' rally then came to a screeching halt when UCLA third baseman Andrea Duran snagged a line drive off the bat of Nicole Motycka. It turned into an unassisted double play when Duran tagged Alessandra Giampaolo before she could return to third base.

Selden, who finished with 10 strikeouts, then fanned Grace Leutele to end the threat.

Ritter and Selden then locked into a pitchers' duel that went into extra innings.

UCLA (40-20) loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but Ritter retired Tara Henry on a ground out to keep the game alive.

"I told my team I like to make it interesting, although that was not my plan," Ritter said. "I knew we could get out of it because we had gotten out of it before. I wasn't worried because I know my defense does a great job."

Michigan's winning rally started in the next half inning with one out when Tiffany Haas reached base on an error by UCLA shortstop Jodie Legaspi.

Giampaolo followed with an infield single. After Merchant struck out, she told Findlay to make up for her out.

The Wolverines freshman responded by hitting her 21st homer of the season, which tied her with Merchant for the program's single-season record. It also was Findlay's 77th run batted in for the season, another school mark.

"It was a great team, I couldn't ask for a better team," Findlay said. "I would give up any individual awards over this team. Playing for this team has meant the world to me."

UCLA settled for its seventh national runner-up finish to go along with its 10 NCAA national championships.

While she wasn't happy with the result, UCLA coach Sue Enquist was able to see the big picture of the event. Before Michigan, the only other programs to win titles were UCLA (10), Arizona (6), Texas A&M (2), Fresno State (1), Cal State Fullerton (1), California (1) and Oklahoma (1).

"I know it's good for softball to see a team other than UCLA, and I'm happy for those people," Enquist told the Detroit Free Press. "I share in their celebration. It's good for the sport."

Hutchins was respectful of the Bruins, who are perennial contenders.

"She (Enquist) has done this 10 times, and I'm certain that I'll be dead before I can do it 10 times," Hutchins said. "To do what she's done is incredible."

Game No. 1

Monica Abbott and Shannon Doepking; Alicia Hollowell and Jackie Coburn. W -- Abbott. L -- Hollowell.

Game No. 2

Anjelica Selden and Emily Zaplatosch; Kelly Anderson, Kristina Thorson (6) and Haley Woods. W -- Selden. L -- Anderson.

Game No. 3

Tracie Adix, Megan Huitink (4) and Kara Amundson; Jennie Ritter and Becky Marx. W -- Ritter. L -- Adix.

Game No. 4

Stephanie VanBrackle and Ashley Courtney; Cat Osterman and Megan Willis. W -- Osterman. L -- VanBrackle.

Game No. 5

Monica Abbott and Shannon Doepking; Anjelica Selden and Emily Zaplatosch. W -- Selden. L -- Abbott.

Game No. 6

Jennie Ritter and Becky Marx; Cat Osterman, Meagan Denny and Megan Willis. W -- Ritter. L -- Osterman.

Game No. 7

Kelly Anderson, Kristina Thorson (3) and Haley Woods; Alicia Hollowell and Jackie Coburn. W -- Hollowell. L -- Anderson.

Game No. 8

Megan Huitink and Kara Amundson; Stephanie VanBrakle and Ashley Courtney. W -- VanBrakle. L -- Huitink.

Game No. 9

Cat Osterman and Megan Willis; Leslie Wolfe, Alicia Hollowell (2) and Jackie Coburn. W -- Osterman. L -- Hollowell.

Game No. 10

Game No. 11

Meagan Denny, Cat Osterman (1) and Megan Willis; Anjelica Selden and Emily Zaplatosch. W -- Selden. L -- Denny.

Game No. 12

Jennie Ritter and Becky Marx; Monica Abbott and Shannon Doepking. W -- Abbott. L -- Ritter.

Game No. 13

Monica Abbott and Shannon Doepking; Jennie Ritter and Becky Marx. W -- Ritter. L -- Abbott.

Championship Game No. 1

E -- Leutele. LOB -- UCLA 5, Michigan 3. 2B -- Zaplatosch. HBP -- Duran, Benyi. SH -- Henry 2. CS -- Milian.

WP -- Wilson. T -- 2:21. A -- 4,161.

Championship Game No. 2

E -- Haas, Legaspi, Selden. LOB -- Michigan 7, UCLA 3. 2B -- Merchant, Findlay, Zaplatosch. 3B -- Duran. HR -- Marx, Benyi. SH -- Haas, Herrera 2.

T -- 2:17. A -- 3,638.

Championship Game No. 3

E -- Leutele, Legaspi. DP -- UCLA 1. LOB -- Michigan 7, UCLA 11. 2B -- Findlay, Dedmon. HR -- Findlay, Dodd. SH -- Dedmon, Colburn.

HBP -- by Ritter (Duran). T -- 3:11. A -- 4,032.