After two losses last weekend to arch rival Arizona, the UCLA
softball team had a grueling four-and-a-half-hour practice on
Tuesday intended to refocus players’ attitudes on defense and
situational hitting.
The defense and hitting came back this weekend, but Keira
Goerl’s pitching did not as she gave up five runs on Saturday
as the Bruins lost to Oregon, 5-4.
Pitcher Michelle Turner’s leg injury forced Goerl to pitch
all three games last weekend against the Arizona schools. Goerl had
to repeat that performance this weekend against the Oregon schools,
and it showed in her control as she walked 20 batters over the
three games.
UCLA head coach Enquist believes that fatigue has affected her
control and confidence, and that teams are seeing her pitch more,
making Goerl easier to hit.
“She’s had some issues with her spots and trusting
her pitches in tough situations,” Enquist said.
Her control started to falter in the third inning as she walked
lead-off hitter Erin Goodell on four pitches. An intentional walk
two batters later to Andrea Vidlund came back to bite Goerl as she
gave up a three run homer to first baseman Alyssa Laux to make the
score 3-1.
Walks once again hurt Goerl as she walked right fielder
Elizabeth Boskovich with two outs in the fourth inning and promptly
gave up a two run home run to Vidlund, making the score 5-1.
Goerl was able to shut down the Ducks for the rest of the game
setting the stage for a UCLA comeback.
Right fielder Caitlin Benyi hit a solo home run off of pitcher
Amy Harris in the fifth inning to make it 5-2. Vidlund then came
into relieve Harris in the sixth inning, but was ineffective,
giving up two hits and a walk with one out to load the bases. But
Vidlund got out of the inning by striking out pinch-hitter Michelle
Turner and third baseman Andrea Duran.
The seventh inning saw a Bruin comeback that fell just short.
Shortstop Natasha Watley led off with a single, going to second on
a throwing error. Benyi then hit a single through the right side of
the infield, scoring Watley and bringing the Bruins to within two
runs.
After a Tairia Mims single that put runners on first and second,
designated player Claire Sua struck out for the first out of the
inning. Stephanie Ramos then ripped a single off the left field
wall scoring Benyi. However the rally ended when catcher Toria
Auelua hit into a game-ending double play.
“We found out a lot about our team by battling
back,” Enquist said. “Unfortunately we just
couldn’t pull it out in the seventh inning.”
Sunday brought redemption for the Bruins, as the team smacked
the Ducks to the tune of a 9-3 victory.
Benyi was the star with two home runs and four RBI and Watley
stole three bases, as Goerl (24-5) struck out eight batters and
gave up only three hits for her second win of the weekend.
On Friday the Bruins defeated the Oregon State Beavers, 6-1, on
home runs by Watley and Mims.
Watley’s stolen base on Saturday gave her 149 on her
career, breaking the Pac-10 record of 148 by Arizona’s Alison
McCutchison.