UCLA softball sweeps Stanford in 11-1 victory
By Brent Boyd
Daily Bruin Contributor
The UCLA softball team opened the Pac-10 season on a winning
note, sweeping Stanford in a doubleheader at Easton Stadium on
Sunday.
Although struggling both offensively and defensively throughout
much of the game, UCLA managed to edge the Cardinal 2-1 in the
opener. In the second inning, freshman catcher Julie Marshall
notched her sixth consecutive hit to begin the 1996 season with a
one-hopper to the left-field fence that resulted in her second
double of the year. She scored on a line-drive single past first
base off the bat of sophomore Laurie Fritz to give the Bruins a 1-0
lead.
But, UCLA was not done. Leading off the third, senior Ginny
Mike-Mitchell used her speed to beat out an infield single and
immediately stole second base. A Nicole Odom line drive off of the
shortstop’s glove gave UCLA a 2-0 advantage. It looked as if the
Bruins would turn the inning into a rally when Marshall hit a line
drive to center, but a great play by Stanford’s Shane Anderson
retired Marshall for the first time all season, ended UCLA’s
threat, and in effect, ended any UCLA rally for the remainder of
the game.
Despite B’Ann Burns striking out the side in Stanford’s half of
the fourth inning, the Cardinal was able to score. This was the
first time an opponent was able to accomplish this against Burns,
due to an error by shortstop Nicole Odom, and a single later in the
inning.
"We have to improve a great deal defensively," said co-head
coach Sue Enquist, of the Bruins’ four errors on the day. "We are
not nearly as good as we are going to be."
Stanford did not threaten again until the seventh and final
inning. After a single and a fielding error by senior second
baseman Kelly Howard, the Cardinal had runners on first and second
with only one out, but Burns struck out the last two hitters,
ending Stanford’s rally, and giving the victory to the Bruins (4-0,
2-0 Pac-10).
In the nightcap, UCLA was holding a tenuous 2-1 lead, until the
bottom half of the fourth. To lead off the inning, sophomore Kim
Wuest ignited a Bruin rally with her second home run of the
season.
"Wuest’s home run created so much momentum for us," said
Enquist. "I have so much respect for her, coming in as a designated
player and doing the job that she did."
The Bruins exploded for seven runs in the inning, with key hits
by freshman Julie Adams, Howard and Alleah Poulson. Freshman
Christie Ambrosi contributed a two RBI double, and Wuest’s RBI
single, her second hit of the inning, put the finishing touches on
the rally that resulted in a 9-1 UCLA advantage.
An inning later, the Bruins were able to finish the game because
of the 10-run rule. Howard hit a two-out home run down the
rightfield line to finish her 4-for-4 game along with two RBIs and
three runs scored.
"I’m just trying to be consistent," said Howard. "Having played
for four years and being on such a young team, I try to be somebody
they can look up to."
A single by Mike-Mitchell and a double by Ambrosi ended the game
and gave UCLA an 11-1 victory.
Although struggling both offensively and defensively throughout
much of the game, UCLA managed to edge the Cardinal 2-1 in the
opener.
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