Softball gears up for Cal doubleheader
By Brent Boyd
Daily Bruin Contributor
The UCLA softball team will try to extend its season-opening
four-game winning streak Saturday in a doubleheader matchup with
California at Easton Stadium.
The Golden Bears will be UCLA’s toughest obstacle thus far in
the season. California, ranked 13th in the nation, returns eight
starters from club that finished with a 41-21 record a year
ago.
"Cal is a very solid ball club this year," UCLA co-head coach
Sue Enquist said. "They always seem ready to play."
If last year was any indication of what is to come, the Bruins
(4-0, 2-0 in Pacific 10) better be ready to play as well. Of UCLA’s
six losses last season, two came at the hands of the Golden Bears,
the only team able to outplay the Bruins in their national
championship campaign. Even NCAA runner-up and Pac-10 champion
Arizona could only defeat UCLA once in five attempts.
After winning three straight games over California, including a
9-0 blowout in five innings early the season, the Bruins struggled
against their upstate rivals, losing the final two games in the
series and ultimately costing UCLA a chance at the conference
title.
In the fourth meeting between the two clubs, the Bears came out
victorious 2-0, handing Bruin pitcher Tanya Harding her only loss
of the season. In the final meeting, they managed four runs on
seven hits and took advantage of two Bruin errors en route to a 4-2
victory.
"We always have really good games with Cal," Enquist said. "We
just need to be mentally prepared and physically ready to
play."
UCLA owns an overall advantage of 40-9 in the series, and will
try to improve upon this domination with a mix of veteran
leadership and contributions from the younger players.
Senior second baseman Kelly Howard is leading the club in hits,
RBI and runs scored, while maintaining a .667 batting average.
Adding to the mix offensively is the freshman trio of Julie
Marshall, Julie Adams and Christie Ambrosi, who have combined for a
.560 batting average.
In addition to the doubleheader, UCLA will honor American
Softball Association Hall of Fame members Mickey Davis and Shirley
Topley in a special ceremony between games.
On Sunday, Easton Stadium will host the annual alumni game at 1
p.m., featuring four former Bruin greats that will be members of
the 1996 USA Olympic softball team: Dot Richardson, Sheila Cornell,
Lisa Fernandez and Jennifer Brundage.
PATRICK LAM
Senior Kelly Howard leads the UCLA softball team in hits, RBI
and runs scored.Comments to webmaster@db.asucla.ucla.edu