Despite owning a Pac-12 record that is nothing to write home about, UCLA softball is not looking to shake its offense up, even though the team has been struggling to string together hits.
“Our focus is to continue to battle and learn as much as we can about ourselves, so when we really get tested we are (as) prepared as we can be,” said coach Kelly Inouye-Perez.
“That’s the name of the game. Be at your best when it’s time to be at your best. Right now we’re learning.”
The Bruins (25-8, 2-4 Pac-12) started the season off hot, winning 15 of 16 games during one stretch, and they want to regain that success against Washington. UCLA has lost four of its last five games, including two of three in the last four days.
To be successful against the Huskies, the Bruins are looking to stick to their formula of keeping the game simple.
“We’re going to be aggressive early in the game, jump on strikes, and play solid defense,” said sophomore pitcher Ally Carda.
As the team faces higher quality lineups and pitching staffs in the Pac-12, the Bruins will have to continue to fight as they simultaneously work on fine-tuning their performance and winning ballgames.
“Regardless of how ugly it can get, this team does not stop fighting,” Inouye-Perez said.
“It doesn’t always guarantee an outcome, but they fight and I think that’s a big thing that you need to have here in Pac-12. You got to have some fight.”
Inouye-Perez said that the players are focusing on playing their game and working towards getting healthy, rather than worrying about their record.
Junior catcher Alyssa Tiumalu and freshman pitcher Paige McDuffee have both returned to the lineup after missing time with injuries. Freshman third baseman Mysha Sataraka has been out of the lineup since Feb. 26 with a right thumb injury and junior second baseman Talee Snow has yet to play a game this season due to a shoulder injury.
“We don’t really focus on wins and losses. We focus on just being able to just battle pitch by pitch, that’s all you have control over,” Inouye-Perez said.
“At the end of the day, we look at the score and see what happens, but there’s no guarantee (of a victory).”
Senior outfielder B.B. Bates is not happy with how the team has performed recently and she recognizes that it has to play better as it gets ready for the Huskies.
“I know we have more than what we’re showing right now. So (am I) happy? No,” Bates said.
“I just want to see the team push a little bit more, because I know we can do it. All of us, every single one of us, we have more than what we’re showing, we have our standards.”