While UCLA softball’s goal of winning the NCAA title is still intact, the opportunity for a conference title has all but slipped away.
The Bruins have compiled a 3-9 Pac-12 record, which ties them with the Utah Utes for second worst in the conference. No. 10 Oregon sits atop the Pac-12 at 10-2.
“Honestly, we know the Pac-12 title is not in reach, so that’s not really our goal,” said junior pitcher Jessica Hall. “Now it’s our goal to look forward to each game at a time … and finishing up (the season) strong.”
The team is coming off losing two out of three in its weekend series against Utah and will try to rebound against California, which boasts a 30-6 overall record and are 6-3 in conference play.
The Bruins are a respectable 26-13 overall, but they have yet to win a series against Pac-12 opponents in four tries.
“You come out here expecting to win every series,” said sophomore shortstop Stephany LaRosa. “I think as a team, it’s more focusing on the little things, which we kind of struggled with this weekend. But regardless of anyone’s record, we have to come out with the same mindset.”
While pitching and defense has been mostly solid all season, Bruin pitchers have given up six home runs in the last four games, compared to giving up only five in their first eight games of Pac-12 play.
During that four-game stretch, the Bruins gave up 25 runs as opposed to the 35 given up in their first eight Pac-12 games, with 10 of those runs coming in one game against the Arizona State Sun Devils.
On the offensive end, the team has had more than 10 hits only once during Pac-12 play, which was in a game it won against Stanford in extra innings. The team reached 10 or more hits 10 times during non-conference play and won all of those games.
While the problems that the team faces may be clear, the solutions are not.
“We’ve got to figure out a way to win, that’s the key,” said coach Kelly Inouye-Perez.
As the stretch run of the regular season schedule arrives, the Bruins’ resolve will be tested. The team is focused on seeing what kind of improvement they can make, and that begins with each game.
“It’s just taking it one game at a time and focusing on the outcome,” LaRosa said.
Correction: A paragraph in the article was misplaced. Also, the top photo is of Jessica Hall. The bottom photo is of Stephany LaRosa.