Softball guns down Ducks, Beavers
By Rick Pal
The top-ranked UCLA softball team plowed through stormy Oregon
weather over the weekend, scoring three victories against the
Oregon Ducks and Oregon State Beavers.
The Bruins (31-2 overall, 14-1 Pac-10) blanked Oregon 7-0 on
Friday, as the only thing the Ducks hit was cold air and rain.
Junior transfer Tanya Harding simply overwhelmed the Ducks as she
picked up her first career no-hitter at UCLA.
All-American third baseman Jennifer Brundage erupted out of her
mini slump against Oregon in the very first inning, as she blasted
a three-run home run and followed it up with a double at her next
at bat. Brundage, who sported a staggering .673 batting average on
March 1, came into the weekend series batting .494.
"All week, Brundage worked on feeling stronger inside. She broke
through this weekend," said UCLA co-head coach Sue Enquist.
Brundage carried over her hitting success against the Ducks to
Oregon State (11-23, 2-6) with three hits, as the Bruins dismantled
the Beavers, 13-1 and 2-0. Bruin bats were on fire in the first
game with Jenny Brewster, Kathi Evans and Alleah Poulson each with
three hits.
Harding followed up her no-hitter against Oregon (13-17, 3-6)
with a one-hitter in UCLA’s 2-0 victory in the second game.
"It is just nice to come up and play the way we did in adverse
conditions," Enquist said. "It will prepare us for our road trip at
Cal in two weeks when we have to play six games."