Softball pitches past Loyola Marymount
Bruins not afraid of Lions’ roar, return to win second game
By Brent Boyd
Daily Bruin Contributor
Bruin fans were treated to a blend of past and present Saturday,
when the softball team swept a doubleheader from Loyola Marymount
at Easton Field.
With the help of several newcomers and a few key veteran
leaders, the Bruins were able to begin their defense of the
national championship on the right note and give the team
confidence heading into the Pacific 10 season, starting this
week.
Behind junior B’Ann Burns’ third career no-hitter and a 13-hit
UCLA attack, the Bruins crushed Loyola 9-0, in a five-inning affair
for the opening game victory. In addition, Burns was inserted into
the second game in relief of Kaci Clark for another five 1-3
innings of perfect pitching.
Throughout the two games, Burns retired every batter she faced,
except for two Lions who reached base due to fielding errors early
in the first game.
"I felt really good and loose warming up before the game, and
fortunately, during the first game I didn’t have to throw a lot of
pitches," Burns (2-0) said. "I was able to hit my spots, preparing
myself for the Pac-10 season."
The Lions kept the game tied until the Bruins’ half of the third
inning. Senior Kelly Howard started the rally with a line drive off
the pitcher’s leg for an infield single. Singles by Ginny
Mike-Mitchell, Nicole Odom and Julie Marshall, and a bases-loaded
walk earned by Laurie Fritz gave the Bruins a 4-0 lead.
The Bruins ended the game in the bottom of the fifth on the
eight-run rule as Howard connected on a shot over the center
fielder’s head for two-run double, followed by a walk to
Mike-Mitchell and a two RBI double by junior Alleah Poulson to give
UCLA the 9-0 victory.
Although emerging with a victory, game two was quite a struggle
for UCLA. Clark failed to retire any of the first five LMU batters,
giving up three runs in the first inning. After struggling again in
the second, she was pulled in favor of Burns.
"It was just one of those days for her," UCLA co-head coach Sue
Enquist said. "She just couldn’t find her rhythm and got the ball
in a little closer than we wanted it."
Clark, finishing 10-0 last year after transferring from Georgia
State as a junior, was saved from her first career loss as a Bruin
when Burns failed to allow a Lion to reach base over the remainder
of the game, and the offense was able to overcome the early
deficit.
The comeback was accomplished as a result of a five-run Bruin
uprising in the fourth inning. Poulson started it out with a single
to lead off the inning, followed by a towering home run off the bat
of sophomore Kim Wuest that sailed over the scoreboard, cutting the
lead to 4-2 and giving the Bruins the momentum they needed.
A walk to Nicole Ochoa, and back-to-back singles by Marshall and
Julie Adams gave Howard the opportunity to hit with the bases
loaded. She made the most of it by lining a single over second base
to score two runners and tie the game 4-4.
"Kelly is a very stabilizing force in our lineup," Enquist said.
"When she’s at the plate and the game is on the line, we know
she’ll come through. She is a very experienced leader for our
club."
Finally, Christie Ambrosi hit a sacrifice fly, bringing in Adams
for the go-ahead run and finishing off the fourth inning, which
proved to be the difference in UCLA’s 5-4 victory, their seventh
consecutive over the Lions.
"For the first game, there were a lot of good things, but a lot
of bad things too," Enquist said. "We didn’t play our best ball
today, but you can never give up on this team. We have a gutty
bunch of players – a lot of heart."
STEFANIE CHAO
Junior B’Ann Burns earned her third career no-hitter
Saturday.