For many on the UCLA softball team, today’s game is a walk down memory lane, albeit not a pleasant one.
No. 5 UCLA (45-11) has returned to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City after a one-year hiatus, and its reward is a marquee matchup against No. 4 Florida (48-8) that begins at 12:30 p.m.
For Donna Kerr, her arrival onto the Oklahoma scene as a wide-eyed freshman in 2008 was both memorable and forgettable.
After winning their first game in the World Series, the Bruins went on to drop their next two, and just like that, the title run was over.
“It was an awesome experience,” the junior pitcher said. “The game just kind of got fast, and unfortunately, we weren’t able to pull through together.”
For Monica Harrison, the rookie starting shortstop two seasons ago, it was simply a matter of a young team that was not quite ready for the big stage.
“We weren’t prepared for what the World Series was,” she said. “We had a good team, but we were expecting to do better than we did.”
Indeed, 12 of the 18 players on the roster that year were either freshmen or sophomores. On the other hand, that can only mean that experience falls on UCLA’s side this time around.
“We did get tripped up,” coach Kelly Inouye-Perez said. “Even in the Super Regional last year, we didn’t take care of business. But this year, the girls were very focused on playing one inning at a time, and they did exactly that.”
Ask Inouye-Perez about any personal accolades that stand to be gained from a successful run through the World Series this year, and it’s apparent from her persistence on the team concept that the poise is undoubtedly there.
“I’ve been able to be a part of this program for a long time, and I know one thing: You’re never going to please everybody,” she said. “But this is not about me, at all. It’s about the program, the four letters.”
“For me, the most important part is the experience for the girls, and I’m proud of this program, more than anything.”
Florida figures to present quite the challenge for a Bruin team that has so far defeated its playoff opponents by a run margin of 42-12. In fact, considering the statistics, the Gators and Bruins are quite similar.
As a team, UCLA is hitting .333, while Florida is batting .335.
In the circle, the Bruins’ pitching staff has sustained a 1.87 earned run average. Led by junior pitcher Stephanie Brombacher, the Gators have posted a 2.02 team ERA.
What once began as a tournament of 64 teams has now shrunk to a field of eight, with the competition heating up with each progressive round.
“The best of the best are definitely here, so we’re not really looking for any blowout games,” Kerr said. “We’re just looking to play our games, push some runs across and stay solid defensively.”