Anjelica Selden has been here before. Last season, during the
UCLA softball team’s improbable run to the College World
Series, Selden, then a freshman, pitched every inning of the 14
postseason games the Bruins played over a two and a half week span.
This season, Selden will be counted on to pitch a similar number of
innings. If this season’s regional play was any indication,
she seems up to the task. Selden, who has pitched through injuries
to the labrum and rotator cuff of her pitching arm for the past two
seasons, pitched brilliantly in the Bruins’ three regional
games. The sophomore notched the win against Missouri State, Long
Beach State and San Diego State over the weekend. She struck out 23
hitters while allowing just two runs and three walks over the three
games. “As far as being focused, I think I’ve managed
that pretty well throughout last year and this year,” Selden
said. “It’s just a matter of not getting too relaxed
when we have so many runs on the board.” Selden pitched in
five regional games in one weekend last year because the Bruins
lost an early game. This year, her pitching has complemented a more
explosive offense to save the Bruins the trouble of playing an
additional two games. “My last three games, I think
I’ve been doing pretty well,” Selden said. “I
still have things to improve on. I miss a few spots here and there,
but overall I think I’ve been doing pretty good” the
pitcher said.
HOLUM SHINES: During last year’s
postseason, junior Whitney Holum was lost in the shuffle. The
junior didn’t play at all in the postseason last year with
the designated player slot being filled by junior Kristen Dedmon.
However, Holum, who has become a mainstay in coach Sue
Enquist’s lineup this season as a designated player, was in
the starting lineup in all three regional games. Holum, who has
formed a reputation as one of the team’s most clutch hitters,
continued to show why she is getting more at bats in the
Bruins’ 7-0 win over the San Diego State team on Sunday.
Holum came through with a sacrifice fly to deep center field to
drive home the first run of the game in the second inning. With two
outs and the bases loaded in the sixth, Holum delivered an RBI
single to left field.
AROUND THE PAC-10: Every Pac-10 team that
participated in regional play over the weekend advanced to the
Super Regional round. Stanford, Arizona State, Arizona, Washington,
Oregon State, California and UCLA are all among the final 16 teams
left in the NCAA draw. The Bruins will face off against South
Florida in Super Regional play, which begins Saturday at 3 p.m. at
Easton Stadium. “There are very few common opponents (between
UCLA and South Florida) where we literally can try to get some
stats on them,” Enquist said. “Bottom line is, whoever
makes it through to the Super Regional, there’s already a
built-in respect for that opponent.”