When the two winningest softball programs in NCAA history meet up, it garners national attention.
All three games between rivals UCLA and Arizona will air on national networks, ESPN2, ESPNU and the Pac-12 Network, for one of the premier rivalries in the sport.
The Wildcats have won eight national championships, the last coming in 2007, which is second only to the Bruins, who have won the most all-time with 11 – most recently in 2010 against none other than the Arizona Wildcats.
With hopes of adding a 12th championship to the trophy case this year on its mind, UCLA (28-14, 5-10 Pac-12) heads to Tucson, Ariz., to take on Arizona (27-17, 4-8) for a three-game series beginning today.
This year’s matchup could hold some animosity between the two teams after last year’s starting shortstop for the Bruins, Kellie Fox, transferred to Arizona in January to redshirt the season after having ulnar nerve replacement surgery.
UCLA softball declined to comment on Fox’s transfer in January, but shortly after transferring, Fox told the Daily Wildcat that UCLA “was just not the right fit for (her).”
If history accounts for anything, the Bruins should hold the advantage over the Wildcats, as they hold a 73-54 all-time record and are 29-25 on Arizona’s turf.
“It’s always a great experience to go to Arizona to go to their house. The history and tradition speaks for itself,” said coach Kelly Inouye-Perez. “We’ll go out there and we’re also going to be on TV, so it’s just going to be a great opportunity for two programs with a great deal of history and tradition to compete.”
Coming off two extra-inning victories over the California Golden Bears, the Bruins are seeking to carry over their mentality that they displayed in that series.
“Arizona is fun to play always, because there’s so much tradition and history with them, but I think we can go out there with the same mentality as we did against Cal this weekend. I think we’ll be in a good place,” said senior outfielder Devon Lindvall.
Lindvall and senior outfielder B.B. Bates are the only two Bruins on the roster who have played in Tucson before, since the team has not traveled there since 2010.
The rivalry will be sure to draw many Wildcat fans into the stands, which is something that the Bruins don’t want to be rattled by.
“I think it’s just new to a lot of the girls. The freshmen and underclassmen haven’t been there yet,” said sophomore pitcher Ally Carda. “So just making it our place and not getting distracted by the crowd or the noise or anything over there, just playing our game.”
Instead of being disappointed after losing the final game of their last series to the Golden Bears in extra innings, the Bruins said they were motivated to work even harder to prepare for the newest chapter of the Wildcat-Bruin rivalry.
“After kind of falling short in this game, I feel like we’re going to come out extra hungry,” said freshman third baseman Mysha Sataraka. “I feel like this week’s practice is going to help us out and we’ll be ready to go this weekend.”