Softball continues winning ways
Bruin bats yield four straight wins; team still looks to
improve
By Brent Boyd
Daily Bruin Contributor
By sweeping a doubleheader from Stanford last weekend, the UCLA
softball team picked up right where they left off in their national
championship season of a year ago.
Opening the season with four consecutive victories, the Bruins
are currently on a 13-game winning streak, dating back to last
season.
However, the team is still not playing as well as they would
like to, especially defensively, according to co-head coach Sue
Enquist.
"We just are not totally together defensively," Enquist said,
referring to UCLA’s seven errors this season. "We’re still breaking
down a little bit in the field, but we definitely will
improve."
* * *
UCLA’s less than stellar fielding is more than made up by their
hitting, especially the three freshmen who have cracked the
starting lineup – catcher Julie Marshall, third baseman Julie Adams
and outfielder Christie Ambrosi. Combined, the freshman trio is
hitting .560 (14-for-25).
"We are very pleased to see the freshmen come in and contribute
right away," Enquist said. "Julie Marshall, in particular, has
shown excellent gamesmanship behind the plate."
Marshall started her UCLA career with six consecutive hits, not
being retired until she was robbed by a diving catch made by the
Stanford centerfielder in the first game of last Sunday’s
doubleheader. She leads the team with a .750 batting average.
Also playing well is sophomore Kim Wuest. Although played
sparingly, she has contributed immensely in her limited
opportunities. Thus far, in only seven at-bats, Wuest has already
connected for two home runs, including a fourth inning shot in the
second game against the Cardinal that gave the Bruins all the
necessary momentum to begin a seven-run rally.
"I have so much respect for her, to come in as a designated
player and do the job that she does," Enquist said. "Her home run
created so much momentum for us, it was incredible."
Wuest’s two home runs have already matched her total for all of
last season.
"I have worked more and more on difficult pitches over the
summer that I have been able to improve," Wuest said. "Part of my
improvement is hitting, the other part of it is the confidence
level – I am more into the game mentally and have gained a year of
experience."
* * *
Not to be outdone is the pitching staff. Junior B’ann Burns has
opened the season with a 3-0 record and hasn’t surrendered an
earned run in over 17 innings. On the opening weekend, Burns
refused to allow any hits or walks in 10 and one-third innings vs.
Loyola Marymount.
After struggling in her first game, senior Kaci Clark came back
to pitch strongly against Stanford and improved her career record
at UCLA to 11-0. After giving up an unearned run in the first
inning, Clark allowed only two singles the rest of the way and
struck out five Cardinal team members en route to her first victory
of the season.
* * *
The Bruins will be busy this coming weekend. After hosting
13th-ranked California in a doubleheader on Saturday, UCLA will
host an alumni softball game and clinic on Sunday, with the game
starting at 1:00 p.m. at Easton Stadium.
In addition to the current stars, playing in Sunday’s game will
be past Bruin greats and current 1996 U.S. Olympians Jennifer
Brundage, Sheila Cornell, Lisa Fernandez and Dot Richardson.
The alumni game will mix former and current Bruins on two squads
in a nine-inning affair. Prior to the game, a player-coach clinic
will be held on the Intramural Fields for girls in grades five
through 12, beginning at 9 a.m.
ANDREW SCHOLER/Daily Bruin
In just over 17 innings on the mound this season, junior B’ann
Burns is 3-0 and has yet to allow an earned run.
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