Monday, April 22, 1996
Softball storms desert with Sun Devil sweepBy Brent Boyd
Daily Bruin Contributor
The last time the UCLA softball team returned from the desert,
its confidence evaporated after an Arizona sweep. This time, the
sun brought nothing but smiles to the Bruin faces after they
dominated 20th-ranked Arizona State en route to a 5-0, 16-3
doubleheader sweep of the Sun Devils.
After falling in five of its previous six games, UCLA (30-8,
11-7 in Pac-10) was in desperate need of a victory. Beginning a
season-ending 12-game road trip proved to be no problem for the
Bruins, as they were in complete control from the opening
pitch.
UCLA pounded the Sun Devils for 13 hits in the first game, as
five Bruins had multiple hit games. The Bruins scored two in the
second and increased their lead in the fourth when freshman third
baseman Julie Adams contributed a two-run scoring double in the
fourth. An additional run in the fifth gave the Bruins their 5-0
victory.
After struggling a week ago against Arizona, pitcher B’Ann Burns
returned to her usual self, scattering seven hits, while pitching
her ninth shutout of the season. She also came on in relief in the
second game, throwing two shutout innings.
In the nightcap, the Bruins used a 20-hit attack to outlast
Arizona State (24-21, 4-12) and scored more runs than their
previous six games combined. The first eight hitters in the Bruin
lineup all managed at least two hits apiece with the third through
seventh hitters accounting for 15 RBIs.
Adams contributed five RBIs, giving her seven for the day. She
also hit her seventh home run of the season. Fellow freshman Julie
Marshall knocked one over the fence as did Kim Wuest, who hit her
team-leading ninth round-tripper of the season.
UCLA scored three runs in the sixth and nine in the seventh to
break open a 4-2 ball game and propel the Bruins to victory.
Senior second baseman Kelly Howard made history on Saturday when
she crossed the plate for the 33rd time this season, increasing her
career mark to 146, a new school record.
FRED HE/Daily Bruin
Kim Wuest circled the bases with her home run in Saturday’s
nightcap against ASU.