SOFTBALL:
UCLA must stay focused to overcome No. 8 Cal Poly SLOBy Melissa
Anderson
Daily Bruin Staff
Still relishing its victory over No.1 Arizona last weekend, the
most important thing for the UCLA softball team as it travels to
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo this weekend is to concentrate on the task
at hand.
For the third-ranked Bruins (28-6), who are coming off their
biggest win of the season, the No. 8 Mustangs (30-6 overall) could
present a challenge, especially if UCLA finds itself suffering a
letdown or overlooking Cal Poly.
The Mustangs’ strength is on the mound in the form of junior
pitcher Desarie Knipfer, who boasts a 0.69 ERA and a 15-5 record.
The right-hander also has 178 strikeouts in 131 2/3 innings
pitched. She is backed up by junior Kelly Smith, who is 11-1 with a
1.21 ERA.
Offensively, Cal Poly is led by lead-off hitter Sara Stockton,
who is batting .352 with two home runs, five triples and 19 RBI.
First baseman Anna Bauer is batting .303 with 18 RBI.
UCLA, however, should be up to the task.
After struggling to a 6-4 record to start the season, the Bruins
have come on strong  winning 23 of their last 25. In
addition, the freshmen have adjusted to the college game and are
helping lead the UCLA charge.
Freshman pitcher Christa Williams was named the Pac-10 and
national Pitcher of the Week after recording the win over the
Wildcats. Fellow freshman Stacey Nuveman leads the team with 12
home runs and a .463 batting average and is just two long balls
short of the UCLA single-season record.
While no one wants to catch themselves looking forward to the
College World Series, especially with 18 games left on the
schedule, there is no denying that UCLA is where it wants to be at
this point in the season.
"This is where we need to be right now," Nuveman said. "The
beginning was rocky … I think day to day we are making
improvements and the more games we play together we get a feel for
each other. It’s only looking up."
SHAWN LAKSMI/Daily Bruin
Freshman pitcher Christa Williams was recently named Pitcher of
the Week.