A year ago, UCLA’s Anjelica Selden pitched every inning
during the postseason, including three days in which she pitched
both ends of a doubleheader. But as this year’s postseason
begins this weekend, when the Bruins host the NCAA Regionals, coach
Sue Enquist insists UCLA is a two-pitcher team and both might be
used. “We’re going to need both,” Enquist said.
“I really believe that.” This year, just like in 2005
when UCLA advanced to the championship game, the sophomore Selden
has pitched a majority of the team’s innings, with 219 2/3
compared to junior Lisa Dodd’s 129. But Dodd has seen much
more time in the circle this year, as she threw only 78 1/3 innings
a year ago compared to Selden’s 325. “The success that
we have had is partly due to the fact that we had two pitchers all
season long,” Enquist said. “Lisa Dodd is a huge
contributing factor.” UCLA (43-7) is the No. 1 overall seed
this year, and is much improved from last year’s 40-20 team
despite having virtually the same roster this year as last.
“We’re going to need Lisa,” Enquist said.
“(She) is somebody that can come in and keep batters
off-balance. She’s extremely effective. I have a lot of
confidence in her.” If Dodd gets a start in the postseason,
Enquist can put Selden into the game as a relief pitcher, as she
has done seven times this year. “It’s very different
coming into a relief position,” Enquist said.
“That’s nice for us to have that experience.”
HENRY AT THE BAT: UCLA’s roster is filled
with All-Americans and players with experience on national teams,
and as an unfortunate consequence, Tara Henry’s
accomplishments have gone under the radar. The slap hitter and
Bruin outfielder hit .367 during conference play ““ the second
highest mark in the Pac-10 to senior Andrea Duran’s .394.
“She just turned it on. It gives us punch at the bottom of
the lineup,” Enquist said. “Her speed is such a factor.
The ball bounces twice in the infield and she’s safe. She
forces the defense to rush and because of that she creates and can
manufacture hits.” Henry typically bats ninth in the lineup
and is second on the team in runs scored.
BRUINS ON TV: All seven games at UCLA’s
regional will be nationally televised on ESPNU. The starting times
for all three days are later than usual (2:30 p.m. Friday and
Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday). This is the first time every game of a
regional will be nationally televised.