By Greg Lewis Daily Bruin Senior Staff
For the first time in awhile, the UCLA softball team got to play
an opponent for whom the Bruins were not the highlight of their
schedule – the U.S. Olympic team.
The Bruins lost both games of the doubleheader on March 25, 3-0
and 2-0, but played extremely well, keeping the games scoreless
until the final innings. Playing by international rules, the
pitching circle was moved in three feet from the college distance
of 43 feet, making hitting much more difficult.
Despite the losses, the Bruins impressed the Olympians.
"They could be the Olympic team," said U.S. player and recent
UCLA graduate Christie Ambrosi. "They don’t have quite the
offensive threat (that the National Team has), but the biggest
difference is really the experience."
In the first game, designated hitter Toria Auelua and third
baseman Julie Adams each got a single, but the Bruins could not
score against U.S. pitchers Michelle Smith and Danielle
Henderson.
Amanda Freed, an alternate on the Olympic Team, looked masterful
for the Bruins, pitching six scoreless innings while not allowing a
ball out of the infield.
In the seventh inning, things unraveled a bit for Freed. Five of
the National Team’s six Bruins reached base safely while scoring
three runs. Current UCLA assistant coach Lisa Fernandez reached on
a walk, then stole second base. Alumni Jennifer Brundage and Sheila
Cornell-Douty singled, and Stacey Nuveman, currently redshirting
the season while training with the Olympic Team, reached second
following the throw home after her single. Finally, Ambrosi reached
on an error by UCLA shortstop Crissy Buck, which scored the third
and final run.
Freed struck out seven and looked ready for international
competition, which she competed against during the summer while
playing on the U.S.’s Blue and White teams. "I wasn’t nervous, I’ve
thrown against them before," she said.
The second game was even closer than the first, scoreless all
the way into extra innings. Bruin pitcher Stephanie Swenson looked
good enough to be considered for the Olympic team herself, striking
out eight and not allowing any earned runs. After seven scoreless
innings, in accordance with international tiebreaker rules, a
runner was placed on second base for the National Team and the
former Bruins struck again. Ambrosi, the runner placed on second,
was driven home by Douty-Cornell, and Brundage scored on a single
by Michelle Smith.
Despite clamorings from the crowd of over 1,200, fan- favorite
Lisa Fernandez did not pitch in the second game. National Team
pitchers Christa Williams and Lori Harrigan shut down the Bruins,
holding them without a hit and striking out ten.
"This was the perfect way to go into Pac-10 play for us," Adams
said. "This game was a test, and it showed us that we’re in a great
position."
Until the National Team agreed to the exhibition, the Bruins had
a three-week hole in their schedule before beginning Pac-10 play.
In exchange for dinner and some healthy competition, the Olympians
made the trek up from their San Diego training facility for the
games.
Before the game, the Bruins honored Ambrosi, who graduated last
year after helping UCLA to its ninth national championship. Ambrosi
still had a year of eligibility left, but chose to compete for the
Olympic Team this year instead. Ambrosi holds many UCLA records,
including most hits in a season and stolen bases for a career and
season. She received flowers and hugs from former teammates in the
ceremony.