If No. 21 UCLA softball (26-13, 3-9 Pac-12) is to turn its season around, it will have to do so against one of the top programs in the nation when the team takes on No. 8 California this week.
The Golden Bears (30-6, 6-3) boast one of the premier pitchers in the country in senior Jolene Henderson. Henderson, last year’s Pac-12 pitcher of the year, has lived up to that billing so far in a 2013 campaign that has been one of the best in the nation. The senior from Elk Grove, Calif., has been a workhorse for Cal, posting 12 shutouts while pitching a total of 208 out of a possible 243 innings, and in doing so has earned as many victories (26) as the entire UCLA team.
UCLA coach Kelly Inouye-Perez, who has seen Henderson pitch in each of the last three years, is well aware of what her team is up against going into the three-game series against Cal. However, the Bruins’ coach emphasized this series will be more about them than their opponent.
“It’s all about Jolene (for California),” Inouye-Perez said. “We’ve played her in the past, sometimes we hit her, sometimes we don’t. But we’re more playing ourselves, it’s not about the opponent. (We) have to continue to keep working.”
The Bruins are quick to point out that they are working and focusing on themselves. In light of the team’s recent struggles, Inouye-Perez has emphasized a return to the basics in practice in an effort to try and stop the team from falling under the pressure when the games count.
“The energy is there, practices have been great,” said senior outfielder B.B. Bates, who leads the Bruins with 15 home runs. “I think (the struggles) are just mental. I just try and coach (the younger players) up to the best of my ability. We all have the ability and talent.”
The Bruins, who have dropped four consecutive series and nine of their past 12 games, are well aware of their recent struggles. In the first three series, it was the inability to produce on offense that was largely credited for the increase in the loss column.
Then, despite producing more runs than any of their Pac-12 series this season with 13 against Utah, it was the Bruins’ pitching and defense that struggled. UCLA committed three errors while Bruin pitchers surrendered 19 runs on 30 hits this past weekend in Utah. Still, despite a less-than-stellar first half of Pac-12 play, Inouye-Perez said she has been impressed with her team’s ability to continue to believe in one another, regardless of recent results.
“Being able to figure out how to deal with adversity is where you have to really reach deep and build a little bit of courage; that’s what this young team needs,” Inouye-Perez said. “I give them a lot of credit, they are really putting forth the effort to stick together and work hard. I hope the game pays them back because the effort is there.”
If the Bruins are able to turn their season around versus the Golden Bears, they will do so in the bright lights of the national stage, as today’s game will air on ESPN2 at 8 p.m.
Heading into the series, UCLA and sophomore second baseman Gracie Goulder remain confident in their ability to perform.
“It’s not like we all forgot how to hit. Hopefully the hitting and pitching can match up,” Goulder said. “The energy level is there, we’re excited. We’re ready for them.”