OKLAHOMA CITY “”mdash; When you think of the defending champion
looking to repeat, you think of a club full of seniors making one
last title run. Then there is UCLA women’s softball, which
was carried offensively by its three freshman starters, all making
their first Women’s College World Series appearance. “I
had butterflies of course,” said freshman right fielder Lisa
Dodd. “I’m sure most of the freshmen did.” It
didn’t show on the field. After Stanford took the early
momentum by scoring in the top of the first inning, Dodd took it
right back with her own RBI single in the bottom of the inning.
When Stanford took the lead in the fourth, it was another freshman,
shortstop Jodie Legaspi, who got the game-tying single for UCLA in
the bottom of the inning. Finally, freshman right fielder Ashley
Herrera hit a chopper up the middle to score two runs. It turned
out to be the game-winning hit. “I have an incredible amount
of confidence (in my freshmen),” coach Sue Enquist said.
“They’ve experienced more than most freshmen this year
in their journey to the world series, and because of that
they’re reaping the benefits.” Dodd and Legaspi have
been everyday starters all year, while Herrera has been shuffled in
and out in Enquist’s lineup. The freshmen, like the rest of
UCLA’s players, have gone through their ups and downs,
including a brutal start to conference play. Throughout the last
few weeks, Enquist has stressed how this has made her players more
prepared for championship-level games. But she does not want any of
her players, especially the freshmen, thinking of the game as
different because it is the championships. “We just keep
reminding them, the game is the same. The game is waiting for you
to do things you’ve done all year,” Enquist said.
“That part never changes. It’s the build-up
that’s different, and that can throw you off your
game.” When describing her approach to her first world series
game, Dodd echoed her coach’s advice. “We try not to
make it any bigger than it really was,” Dodd said.
“It’s the same game that we’ve been playing all
season.”
UCLA v. LSU: The Bruins will face the No.
3-seed Tigers today after LSU’s wild 3-2 win over Michigan in
13 innings. The game was scoreless until the top of the 12th, when
Michigan’s Grace Leutele hit a two-run homer in the top of
the inning. LSU tied the game in the bottom of the inning, after
Michigan catcher Monica Schock had a passed ball on pitcher Jennie
Ritter’s first pitch of the game. Michigan’s sloppy
play continued in the next inning, after a routine infield single.
Two Michigan players threw the ball away, allowing Sara Fitzgerald
to score from second base. Today’s game between LSU and UCLA
will be nationally televised at noon on ESPN.