It could have been a perfect ending for the seniors on the UCLA
softball team. The seniors could have gone out with their third
national title in four years, leaving UCLA the same way they came
into UCLA as freshmen ““ as national champions. They could
have been the senior class to bring home UCLA’s 100th
national title. But even though the Bruins (50-9, 15-5 Pac-10)
didn’t win the title, this is a senior class that refuses to
get too caught up in what could have been. “Obviously I was
disappointed,” senior second baseman Caitlin Benyi said.
“It would have been great to go out on top. At the same time,
what we’ve done here the last four years is nothing short of
amazing. We don’t validate our careers and lives based on
national championships.” Still, the disappointing fashion in
which the game ended was a very difficult way for the seniors to
end their careers. Senior catcher Emily Zaplatosch, in particular,
was still feeling the sting hours after the game had ended.
“One day, I’ll be able to look at all that we’ve
accomplished and reflect back,” Zaplatosch said. “But
to be honest, right now, I’m just a little bit more angry.
The sadness (of playing my last game) hasn’t set in
yet.” While the seniors have left an undeniable mark on the
UCLA softball program with their accomplishments, the intangibles
that the seniors brought to the table will be missed by coach Sue
Enquist as the group departs. “Their ability to take this
club and own the direction that they wanted to go enabled UCLA to
enjoy the success that we have in the Pac-10,” Enquist said.
With Sunday’s loss, the seniors will leave UCLA with two
national title rings and a Pac-10 Championship from this season.
“They wear the uniform with such pride that they have created
a template for all future Bruins to emulate,” Enquist said.
“I can honestly tell you I have never ever coached a more
enjoyable senior class in the history of being in this
program.” That’s high praise from a coach who has been
behind six national championship teams.
ARIZONA ADVANCES: Despite losing to Tennessee
1-0 on Sunday morning, the Arizona Wildcats were able to recover
and defeat the Volunteers later on Sunday to advance to the title
series, where they will face the Northwestern Wildcats. The first
game of the best-of-three series is tonight at 6 p.m. If the Bruins
had been able to defeat Northwestern, their prospects of beating
Arizona looked pretty good. UCLA has overshadowed Arizona the past
two years, winning all six of the matchups. This season, the Bruins
outscored Arizona 20-5 in the teams’ three matchups. Arizona
finished second to UCLA in the Pac-10 this year.
QUICK PITCHES: Junior Kristen Dedmon’s
game-tying RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning in
Sunday’s game was only her second RBI of the year. …
Sophomore pitcher Anjelica Selden gave up a season-high three home
runs in the game. … This year marked the second straight season
the Bruins were eliminated by a Big Ten team. The Bruins fell to
Michigan in the title series last season.