The UCLA softball team lost for the first time this season on
Wednesday night, 1-0, at Long Beach State. The Bruins had not only
entered the game undefeated through five games in this early
season, but had been on an offensive tear, scoring 54 runs in five
games. That changed against Long Beach, when the Bruins
couldn’t score a run. “I’m disappointed that we
didn’t do a better job of adjusting at the plate,” UCLA
coach Sue Enquist said in a phone interview. Enquist, however, did
note some positives. “We hit some nice shots out
there,” Enquist said. “We were able to put runners in
scoring position.” Enquist wasn’t overly concerned
about her team’s offensive output. “The kids know how
to do it,” she said. “They understand what
they’re supposed to do.” Pitching for Long Beach State
was Michelle Turner, who played for the Bruins from 2003-2004. She
allowed only five hits without allowing a walk in the shutout. UCLA
pitcher Anjelica Selden shined as well, compiling 13 strikeouts and
allowing only one unearned run on one hit. Selden kept her ERA at a
perfect 0.00 this season, having not allowed a single earned run.
Long Beach State scored its run in the bottom of the fourth inning,
when Kourtnee Gervasi hit a single that drove in Turner, who had
reached on an error. UCLA catcher Emily Zaplatosch had two hits for
the Bruins. “You can’t duplicate this game’s
environment,” Enquist said. “It was an emotionally
charged game, and we didn’t have the emotional restraint we
needed.” The loss came early in the season for the No.
2-ranked Bruins, who had only played in one weekend tournament
prior to Wednesday night. While Long Beach State (3-3) is unranked,
the 49ers were picked to finish second in the Big West Conference
preseason poll and qualified for the NCAA Tournament team a year
ago. “It’s just a reality check,” Enquist said.
“We’re not invincible.”
FRESNO STATE COMES TO TOWN: UCLA hosts No. 22 Fresno State for a
two-game series this weekend, with games Saturday (2 p.m.) and
Sunday (1 p.m.) at Easton Stadium. A two-game weekend series in
February is rare, as most teams play in tournaments every weekend
this early in the season. UCLA and Fresno State have a historic
rivalry, as both schools have traditionally been strong in softball
since their early days in the sport. “We look forward to
it,” Enquist said. “There’s a great history and
tradition in playing Fresno.”