Softball falls to No. 2 in national poll
By Rick Pal
For the Bruin softball team, winning four of six games this
weekend wasn’t enough to remain atop the NSCA/USA Today Top-25.
The poll, released Wednesday, had Arizona slated at the top spot
even though the Bruins (40-5 Pac-10, 22-3 overall) own first place
in the Pac-10 and convincingly handed the Wildcats three of their
four losses.
The past week has not been a downward spiral for the Bruins,
although it hasn’t been the most memorable week either. Despite
pummeling Oregon and Stanford four times on the road, UCLA could
not stop a surging 12th-ranked California team that handed the
Bruins their first doubleheader sweep this season.
In addition, in last week’s loss to seventh-ranked Cal State
Northridge, the Bruins were shut out in the second game and notched
only two runs in the series.
With only four games remaining, UCLA doesn’t have much time to
return to form as the NCAA Regionals begin on May 19.
* * *
All-American third baseman Jennifer Brundage erupted from her
mini-slump in a big way against the Oregon Ducks. The senior belted
four home runs Monday, shattering a host of Bruin records.
Brundage, who was hitting .673 on March 1, boosted her average
above the .500 plateau this weekend with a phenomenal 12-for-16
performance. Half of those hits were home runs. She currently leads
the Pac-10 in hitting with a .507 batting average.
In addition, Brundage moved up in the UCLA record books during
the weekend. She broke school records for doubles in a career (44),
runs in a season (49) and home runs in a season (12). Brundage is
also on the verge of breaking the UCLA career record for home runs
(19) with her 18 roundtrippers.
* * *
Brundage’s performance may have added kick to the UCLA offense,
which appeared to be mired in a slump of late. Alleah Poulson,
Nicole Odom and Tanya Harding all had dingers in the Oregon series.
Kelly Howard also had a strong series against Stanford and three
hits in Tuesday’s loss to Cal.
With four batters hitting above the .400 plateau, it is hard to
understand why the Bruins’ scoring totals have been so low.
Brundage, Harding, Howard and Odom are hitting above .400 and
Poulson is knocking on the door with a .398 average.
However, one probably wouldn’t realize this by looking at the
combined four runs scored in four games against No. 7 CS Northridge
and No. 12 California this last week.