The women’s softball team left Las Vegas with four wins and a loss. After a strong showing in the team’s opening weekend, going 4-1 at a home tournament, the No. 6 Bruins were looking to continue their strong start to the season in the UNLV Louisville Slugger Desert Classic.
On Friday, the Bruins (8-2) did continue their stellar play against two tough teams, taking a 4-0 win against No. 22 Missouri and a 6-2 win against South Carolina. In both games, the Bruins jumped out to early leads, scoring in the first inning. Against Missouri, senior outfielder Krista Colburn doubled in senior utility player Ashley Herrera for a 1-0 lead, and, against South Carolina, sophomore first baseman Megan Langenfeld belted a three-run home run.
On Saturday, the Bruins were only able to take one of the games, losing the other to Illinois 6-2. The Bruins struggled to get on the board, letting Illinois score five runs before they scored in the seventh inning on an infield single by Langenfeld.
“If you don’t execute, you don’t get the outcome,” coach Kelly Inouye-Perez said. “Pitching and defense and timely hitting is important. If those three don’t come together, you aren’t going to get the win.”
The Bruins were able to bounce back from their loss and beat Portland State 7-4 later in the evening.
UCLA finished the weekend strong, beating Wisconsin 4-1. Senior pitcher Anjelica Selden allowed just one hit while striking out six. With three wins, Selden was a tremendous asset to the team’s success in Las Vegas this weekend.
“She had great command,” Inouye-Perez said. “She gave the team a boost of confidence knowing she would keep us in there. She led, she produced, she executed, she managed in pressure.”
Selden approached the weekend just like any other.
“The most important thing for me is to keep the same routine for every game,” Selden said. “I don’t skip a beat. When I’m warming up, I like to keep everything I do game-like.”
Most crucial to the team’s success this weekend was working on team play.
“They are all focusing on how they can really focus on their part of the game that is going to make the team better,” Inouye-Perez said.
Colburn didn’t see scoring as the most crucial element either.
“Of course you always want to score,” Colburn said. “We knew that the (Illinois) game was going to be a tough battle. Just getting people on base in the first inning gives you confidence.”
The Bruins hope to continue their streak in the upcoming week with a game on Wednesday against Loyola Marymount. This game will come between two weekend tournaments, giving the Bruins little time to rest.
“Monday we get our day off to let (our bodies) rest,” Colburn said. “The key for us is to be smart and take care of our bodies during the week.”