Softball’s pitching lineup pivotal to team’s success

Lisa Dodd was pitching one of the best games of her career.
Through five innings, she had yet to allow a hit, and the only
Arizona State Sun Devil had reached base on a hit-by-pitch. Yet
after allowing only a leadoff single and a sacrifice bunt in the
sixth, Dodd was pulled from a 0-0 game, relieved by Bruin-ace
Anjelica Selden. Dodd didn’t even get credit for the win, as
top-ranked UCLA didn’t score the only run of the game until
the bottom of the sixth. “Lisa Dodd has to be virtually
perfect. I have a short hook with her,” UCLA coach Sue
Enquist said. “I’m just really proud of how she’s
played, because that’s tough on a pitcher. I admire her
competitiveness and her ability to switch tasks immediately and
execute at first base.” Dodd is normally the team’s
first baseman when she isn’t pitching. She has been used as
the team’s second pitcher for the past three years, but has
already recorded a career-high in innings pitched this season (120
2/3). Still, she is sometimes taken out of close games in favor of
Selden, who pitched every inning during last year’s run to
the NCAA Championship Series. But Enquist insists Dodd is more
valuable to this team than ever. “A large part of our success
this year has to do with Lisa Dodd, because of what she’s
doing in the circle for us,” Enquist said. “She’s
created the balance that we need in our attack.” Dodd is more
of a finesse pitcher, while Selden is a power pitcher, which is
likely one of the reasons Enquist has trusted Selden more in big
games. Dodd is having a career year, with an ERA of 1.68 and a
win-loss record of 15-1, but it still pales in comparison to the
Selden’s season (1.04 ERA, 25-4, 299 strikeouts in 195
innings). Dodd’s success may be helping Selden as well
““ the more innings Dodd throws, the less wear and tear on
Selden’s arm, allowing the already-dominant pitcher to be
fresher for the postseason. “You only have so many
bullets,” Enquist said. “We’ve got two pitchers.
It’s really exciting knowing that you don’t have to
rely on one person.”

SENIOR DAY: The four UCLA seniors were honored
before Sunday’s game ““ the Bruins’ last
regular-season home game of the year. Cailtlin Benyi, Andrea Duran,
Alissa Eno and Emily Zaplatosch all know they will more than likely
get another chance to play at Easton Stadium, since the Bruins are
a virtual lock to host an NCAA Regional on May 19, but that
didn’t stop them from being a bit emotional during Senior Day
on Sunday. “It’s surreal,” Eno said. “It
didn’t hit me until I walked to the plate (during the
ceremony). It was nice to win the game on Senior Day. Hopefully
we’ll have the opportunity to host regionals and be back at
our house again.” The four UCLA seniors were a part of the
NCAA Championship teams in 2003 and 2004 and led the team to the
championship game in 2005. “I’m so proud of who they
are,” Enquist said. “I think this senior class has been
the most enjoyable to watch. They enjoy playing the game. They love
being a part of UCLA.” Benyi, Duran and Zaplatosch are all
near the top of the UCLA career list in many different statistical
categories. “It’s just different because we have so
much of the season left,” Duran said. “It’s kind
of weird to get out those emotions so early. It was fun to get out
there and play our last Pac-10 game at Easton Stadium.”

QUICK NOTES: UCLA’s 1978 AIAW
Championship team was honored before Saturday’s games and
given rings. The Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women
governed women’s collegiate sports before the NCAA, and
because of that, the 1978 team is often forgotten as the first UCLA
softball national championship team. Enquist was a player on that
1978 team. Selden, a sophomore, tied Lisa Fernandez for third on
the all-time UCLA career-strikeout leaders list, with 784, trailing
only Keira Goerl (1,095) and Debbie Doom (952).

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