Keira Goerl stepped into the UCLA softball record book this
weekend, becoming the first pitcher in school history to win 100
games for the Bruins.
She led the Bruins to a 5-3 win against No. 5 Washington in the
marquee game of the Long Beach State Tournament, which the Bruins
swept.
“Wow, I did that?” said Goerl, who was unaware of
the milestone until asked about it. “I think that’s pretty
cool.”
Goerl gave up three runs, although only one of them was
earned.
But the game was obviously an early season game, as the teams
combined for four unearned runs on five errors.
“That just doesn’t surprise me,” said coach
Sue Enquist. “I know they haven’t had a lot of game
situations to sharpen their skills.”
The Huskies started the scoring in the bottom of the first, with
leadoff hitter Dominique Lastrapes scoring an unearned run.
UCLA came back with three runs in the second, including freshman
designated player Kristen Dedmon’s first home run as a
Bruin.
Over the next two innings Washington scored again, tying the
game at 3-3.
The game stayed tied until the bottom of the fifth, when the
Bruins loaded the bases with no outs and cleanup hitter Emily
Zaplatosch at the plate.
Huskies pitcher Tia Bollinger started to work out the jam,
getting Zaplatosch to ground into a fielder’s choice and then
striking out shortstop Jodie Legaspi.
But freshman Lisa Dodd came up with a single to shallow left
field, driving in the eventual winning run. It was her first
collegiate hit.
“Coming into the game, especially as a freshman, I
wasn’t really sure what to expect,” Dodd said. “I
just wanted to make sure I capitalized on the chance and put in
good showing.”
Goerl cruised down the stretch, striking out six of the last 11
batters to finish the game with nine.
“It breeds confidence within the whole team when Keira
goes in the circle,” Enquist said.
In their opening game of the season, the Bruins posted a 4-0
shutout over Santa Clara.
Andrea Duran, who plays third base, hit a two-RBI triple in the
third inning, when the Bruins scored all four runs.
Dodd, making her first collegiate start, gave up three hits
while striking out six batters.
“I proved to myself that I could hang at the Division I
level but obviously there’s room for improvement,” Dodd
said.
Facing tournament host Long Beach State on Sunday, Goerl once
again had nine strikeouts as the Bruins won 5-1.
In the nightcap, UCLA came from behind to beat San Diego State
by a score of 6-2 in another error-filled game.
The Bruins scored scored six runs on only five hits, thanks in
large part to the Aztecs’ eight errors.
“I thought we did a good job of showing poise when we fell
behind,” Enquist said.