They had just demolished visiting Simon Fraser 13-2. So why was the UCLA softball team running postgame sprints on Tuesday afternoon?
“Just sharpening up skills,” coach Lisa Fernandez said. “Nothing more than practicing on some of our shortcomings.”
Those shortcomings certainly weren’t with their bats, however. The No. 6 Bruins (8-2) hit three home runs ““ two by catcher Kaila Shull ““ in their five-inning, mercy-rule victory. The visiting Clan (6-3) used three different pitchers to get just 12 outs.
No, the Bruins’ faults came in the circle.
“We have a stat (at UCLA) called the “˜Lisa Fernandez,'” starting pitcher Whitney Baker (3-0) said. “That’s basically, “˜Stop the bleeding and get the next out.’ I’m going to be working towards (bettering) that.”
Baker had a hiccup to start the game, allowing a hit and a walk in the first inning. For the next three, she was perfect. Then, in the fifth, the ball started finding holes: The Clan strung together five singles and scored two runs. Coach Kelly Inouye-Perez yanked Baker and junior Megan Langenfeld got the final outs.
After the game was in the books, the Bruins headed to left field for their postgame meeting. Then, the sprints began, followed by what looked like Baker finishing off the inning she’d left for Langenfeld: For every missed pitch, the rest of the team ran to the center field wall.
“We try to put the girls in pressure situations, because that’s what we’re preparing for: when the bases are loaded and you’re up at the plate, or it’s the bottom of the seventh inning and we’ve got a one-run lead. You’ve got to be able to handle the pressure,” Fernandez said.
“I’m better than that,” Baker said of her late-game falter.
“(Coach Inouye-Perez) was just trying to emphasize a sense of urgency and the need to be able to close out a ball game. She’s going to be pushing our whole pitching staff to mentally be tougher than we are now.”
Inouye-Perez did not comment after the game.
The Bruins play again on Friday at 8 p.m. against No. 1 Alabama (8-0) in the Cathedral City Softball Classic. The Crimson Tide have shut out their past three opponents. During the weekend, the Bruins will also face No. 14 Fresno State and No. 15 Massachusetts.