Last season, the UCLA softball team entered the postseason as an
underdog after an inconsistent regular season. This year, the
Bruins couldn’t have been more consistent, and as a result
will begin postseason play as favorites.
Despite dropping two games to Stanford over the weekend, The
Bruins (43-7, 15-5 Pac-10) were given the No. 1 overall seed in the
64-team NCAA Tournament and will host regional play, which begins
on Friday at Easton Stadium.
“It’s nice,” UCLA coach Sue Enquist said about
receiving the No. 1 seed. “But I think what’s more
important is that we get to host.”
The Bruins, who began the season as the No. 2 team in the nation
and remained in the top three all along, did get the top seed in
the tournament. But surviving regional play will not be easy by any
means.
Joining the Bruins in their region are Missouri State, Long
Beach State and San Diego State, the latter two of which have
already played the Bruins this season.
The Long Beach State 49ers have played the Bruins twice this
year, handing the Bruins one of their two nonconference losses on
Feb. 15.
San Diego State gave UCLA a run for its money back on Feb. 12.
The Aztecs jumped off to an early 1-0 lead before the Bruins came
back to squeeze out a 2-1 victory.
“Both (the 49ers and the Aztecs) are bona fide teams that
know how to win,” Enquist said. “We have to come
prepared and ready to go on literally the first pitch.”
The Bruins open up play against the Missouri State Bears at 5
p.m. on Friday and will take on either San Diego State or Long
Beach State on Saturday.
The Aztecs face off against the 49ers at 2:30 p.m. on Friday
directly before the Bruins take on the Bears at Easton Stadium.
UCLA is coming off its first losing streak of the year ““
the team ended the regular season by dropping its last two games to
Stanford.
But with a veteran team that has played well all season long,
Enquist isn’t too concerned.
“I think when we lost over the weekend, it was an
opportunity to put ourselves in check,” Enquist said.
“I look forward to preparing for the next game.”