The UCLA softball team had to play its first 27 games of the season without its vocal leader in the outfield.
Sophomore outfielder Allexis Bennett was suspended for the winter quarter because of violation of team rules, forcing her to miss all of UCLA’s 27 games during that period.
“It was rough,” Bennett said after a game on March 29.
The rough period for Bennett is over, however. Since her return on March 22, she has been an integral part of the Bruin lineup. Bennett is leading No. 2 UCLA (41-4, 12-3 Pac-12) in batting average heading into its three-game series at California (23-20, 4-9) this weekend.
“I believe she’s the best center fielder I’ve ever played behind,” said senior pitcher Jessica Hall. “So knowing that she’s there behind me when I’m pitching, I just feel like the outfield is covered.”
Bennett’s efficient play comes in spite of the fact that she was unable to participate in team practice from early January to the middle of March. All she could do during that time was weight train with the team. When the team was practicing, Bennett was in an office studying for classes.
“(I) kept reading and doing assignments. And then late at night, I’d have my bat, go up and hit in the cages,” Bennett said.
Bennett was working diligently, knowing that her future with the UCLA softball team was on the line.
“I really consider my winter quarter a journey,” Bennett said. “I could have gone both ways. Like I could have just failed completely out of it and just not even be where I am right now.”
Bennett did all she could to ensure that she would not fail. While she worked independently with her studies, she
also traveled to Anaheim to practice with her hitting coach and maintain her softball skills.
When Bennett returned to play her first game of the season, she immediately contributed. In a road game against then-No. 5 Washington, Bennett had a game-high two hits, while also scoring a run and stealing a base.
“She’s one of our faster batters, so her getting on (base) is very key for us,” said sophomore third baseman Mysha Sataraka.
Bennett has played in every UCLA game since her suspension was lifted, and the Bruins have a 15-3 record during that span. But even though Bennett has led the Bruins in batting average and stolen bases since her return, her impact cannot be fully defined in numbers.
“We’re all glad to have her back,” Sataraka said. “I mean just her presence up in the batter’s box. … And just her defense in general, like she commands the outfield, so it’s great when she’s out there.”
One thing that the speedy Bennett will have to watch out for in this weekend’s series is Cal’s efficiency in throwing out potential base stealers. Cal has allowed the fewest stolen bases of any Pac-12 team this season.