UCLA softball’s Pac-12 destiny is up in the air heading into the final week of the regular season.
With a strong showing against the Utah Utes this week and a little luck, the Bruins’ may be in a position to capture their first Pac-12 title since 2009.
“Winning a Pac-12 title is definitely something we strive for,” said sophomore second baseman Kylee Perez.
Despite a 2-2-1 start to Pac-12 play, No. 14 UCLA (33-13-1, 14-5-1 Pac-12) is currently in second place, trailing Oregon (40-6, 16-2) by only three games in the loss column. This week, the Bruins will travel to take on the Utes (31-15, 12-6) while the Oregon Ducks will square off against the Cal Bears and then Utes next week.
“It’s right there for us with a little help from Oregon,” said junior shortstop Delaney Spaulding.
UCLA is fresh off an eventful sweep of Arizona State, which included two walk-off home runs to cap off come-from-behind victories.
The Bruins’ offense has scored at least six runs in seven of its last eight games and has been a large reason why the team has only lost one game during that span.
“We’ve really come alive in the second half of Pac-12s and scored eight runs in pretty much every game the last two weeks,” Spaulding said.
UCLA’s lineup has been fueled by the strong play of its upperclassmen. Senior centerfielder Allexis Bennett has a seven-game hitting streak while Spaulding has 11 RBIs in the last seven games.
Meanwhile, senior third baseman Mysha Sataraka, the Pac-12 Player of the Week, has developed into the key cog in the Bruins’ offense machine, leading the team in on-base and slugging percentage.
“She’s an All-American no question about it,” Spaulding said.
UCLA comes up against a strong Utah pitching staff though that has surrendered a minute 2.71 ERA this season. Sophomore Katie Donavan headlines the Utes’ staff. Opposing hitters are only hitting .238 off of her this season.
While the Bruins’ offense has been its strength in recent games, its pitching has not. UCLA pitchers have combined for a 5.14 ERA over the last four games but will look to get back on track against a Utah lineup that has posted a .311 batting average this season.
“As a staff we need to focus on having each other’s backs and doing a better job of being able to come in and pick it up for each other,” said sophomore pitcher Johanna Grauer.
Junior infielder Hannah Flippen will be the focal point of the Utes offense against the Bruins. She leads her team in nearly every offensive category including batting average, home runs and on-base percentage.
Although unranked, Utah is third in the Pac-12 and still has an outside shot itself at stealing the Pac-12 title after winning nine of its last 11 games.
“They’ve been doing well in Pac-12,” Grauer said. “They’re just always a kind of scrappy and underrated team.”
UCLA is no stranger though to high-stakes series late in the season.
Last year, the Bruins entered their final series trailing the Ducks by only one game in the standings and failed to win a Pac-12 title. However, that team went on to advance to the Women’s College World Series, and Perez sees similarities between last year’s squad and this year’s.
“This team like last years will be able to put a good fight and hit no matter what,” Perez said.
UCLA opens up a three-game set against Utah in Salt Lake City on Friday.