With an opportunity to record its first series win this season in Pac-12 play, UCLA softball once again fell short.
The No. 15 Bruins (26-13, 3-9 Pac-12) lost their fourth consecutive conference series, this time to the Utah Utes (16-20-1, 3-9), who hold the worst overall record in the Pac-12 and are now tied with UCLA for the second worst conference record.
The Bruins lost two of the three games against the Utes this weekend, and there does not appear to be an obvious improvement in sight.
“We got to figure out a way to win,” said coach Kelly Inouye-Perez.
After the final game of the series, an 8-3 loss on Sunday, Inouye-Perez was clearly not happy with her team’s play over the weekend.
“Am I happy with the results? No,” Inouye-Perez said.
Despite winning the first game of the series 6-4, UCLA dropped the next two to lose the series. Utah’s wins marked its first ever conference series victory since the Utes joined the Pac-12.
Inouye-Perez has said since the beginning of the season that her team is a championship contender and agreed that these are the types of games that championship contenders are supposed to win. She also said that her team is running out of time to turn this season around.
The players were similarly disappointed with the weekend’s outcome.
“This isn’t how we practice,” said junior pitcher Jessica Hall. “We’re a lot sharper than this, we’re just getting in our own head.”
Hall added that the team is focused on slowing the game down, taking it one game at a time, and trying to finish the season strong as it prepares for playoffs.
Despite their recent play, the players still believe that they are championship contenders.
“Even championship teams go through slumps, if that’s what you want to call this,” said sophomore shortstop Stephany LaRosa.
This slump has existed since the Bruins entered Pac-12 play, as the team has struggled to adjust to the tougher competition and has lost six of its last seven games.
With 16 games left in the regular season, 12 versus Pac-12 teams, the Bruins still have some time remaining to try to dig themselves out of their hole.
“I don’t think (these results) would be acceptable to anybody who comes out here and prepares as D-1 athletes,” LaRosa said.
“Looking to lose? No, absolutely not, that isn’t what this team is about. Don’t worry, we’re going to flip things.”