Bruin pitcher burns out, UCLA drops first season loss to
Bears
By Brent Boyd
Daily Bruin Contributor
The UCLA softball team went into Saturday’s doubleheader against
California with a perfect record, but when they left Easton Stadium
after game two, the Bruins realized that they are not
unbeatable.
However, they could still possess an unblemished record, if it
weren’t for one inning in the second game. After dominating the
13th-ranked Golden Bears 7-0 in the opener, California made a
five-run first inning rally hold-up to defeat the Bruins 5-2.
Losing twice to California last year, both times at the hands of
the Bears’ opening game starting pitcher, Whitney Floyd, UCLA was
fired up for game one. After falling short on a first inning rally
and failing to get any runs across the plate in the next two
frames, the Bruins started to explode in the fourth. Junior first
baseman Alleah Poulson opened the inning with a lead off walk,
setting the stage for Nicole Odom’s two-run home run down the left
field line, giving the Bruins a 2-0 advantage.
This would be all the Bruins would need, considering junior
B’Ann Burns’ domination on the mound. The only runs she allowed all
game were a bloop single that fell between three infielders in the
fifth inning, and a seventh inning walk.
But the Bruins were not done hitting. In the bottom half of the
fifth, a lead off walk by Kelly Howard, followed by a Christie
Ambrosi single and a fielder’s choice gave UCLA a 3-0 lead. Then,
Odom knocked a single over third base, scoring Ambrosi, and
increasing UCLA’s lead to 4-0.
"After facing Floyd twice last year and doing well against her
in the past, I just went to the plate with a lot of confidence,"
Odom said.
In the first game, Odom finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored
and three RBIs. However, her three RBIs were matched by sophomore
Kim Wuest on the next pitch. She knocked a three-run home run over
the fence, giving UCLA the 7-0 lead and chasing Floyd, a
second-team All-American from a year ago, out of the game.
However, in the second game, the Bruins were not so fortunate.
Burns was given the nod to start the second game as well, but she
could not continue her success from the first game. The Bears
rallied for four hits and five runs (the first earned runs of the
season given up by Burns) en route to an early 5-0 advantage.
"Burns just couldn’t keep the ball moving in the second game, it
just flattened out," said co-head coach Sue Enquist. "I’m confident
that she’ll be able to dig down deep and battle back."
Kaci Clark did a fine job replacing Burns after one inning,
scattering six hits and surrendering no runs through the final six
innings, but the five run lead would prove to be enough. The Bruins
did not get any hits until the sixth inning, and cut the lead to
5-2 after a single by Howard and doubles by Ambrosi and junior
catcher Sandra Burkey. But, this is as close as the Bruins came to
the Bears, losing for the first time this season.
"This team has to show its maturity by not playing to the
scoreboard," said Enquist. "We lost our discipline at the plate and
it may have cost us the ballgame."
PATRICK LAM
In game two of Saturday’s doubleheader, Kaci Clark gave up six
hits and no runs in six innings, relieving starter B’Ann Burns.
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