Softball breaks even in Fresno doubleheader
Pitcher’s streak ends, batters pack powerful punch against
Bulldogs
By Brent Boyd
Daily Bruin Contributor
The UCLA hitting machine continued its explosive output Saturday
in Fresno. Senior second baseman Kelly Howard continued her torrid
hitting pace, going 4-for-7 in the two games to improve her
team-leading .529 average. Senior outfielder Ginny Mike-Mitchell
also finished the day 4-for-7, leading the team to a 4-1 victory in
the opener with two hits.
Sophomore designated player Kim Wuest also continued to display
her power, hitting a home run in the second game of the set. The
shot over the wall was Wuest’s sixth round-tripper in only 22
at-bats. She has not met a team that she doesn’t enjoy hitting
against, notching at least one home run against every opponent this
year. Wuest is on pace to easily break the UCLA season record of 14
homers. In addition, she leads the team with 14 RBIs and a 1.136
slugging percentage.
* * *
The starting defensive lineup was altered a bit for the Fresno
games. Freshman Julie Adams, who had started every game this year,
was switched to the outfield. Sophomore Laurie Fritz filled her
spot – marking only the second time in her collegiate career she
had started a game at third base.
"Fritz is a more experienced player in such big games and in
front of large crowds," co-head coach Sharron Backus said, "We knew
that in this situation we could alleviate a little pressure off of
Adams."
* * *
Senior pitcher Kaci Clark’s undefeated reign at UCLA ended when
the Bulldogs walked away with a 5-4 victory over the Bruins in the
nightcap. It seemed as if Clark would extend her 12-game streak,
dating back to last season when she transferred from Georgia State,
but three Fresno State University runs in the bottom of the sixth
helped drop Clark’s record to 2-1. Clark surrendered only five hits
through the game, but succumbed to control problems, allowing eight
Bulldogs to reach base on walks.
* * *
Something about watching the Bruins and Fresno State battle it
out sure excites softball fans. UCLA has now played in the two
highest attended regular season softball games in NCAA history,
both in Fresno.
Saturday’s doubleheader matchup with the No. 3 FSU drew 5,427
fans to the opening of Bulldog Stadium, the largest number of fans
ever to watch an NCAA softball matchup. The previous attendance
record was 3,517.Comments to webmaster@db.asucla.ucla.edu