A cold and windy day, an hour delay, and still Loyola Marymount did little to stop the Bruin softball team. The start was slow, but in the end No. 12 UCLA (11-5) triumphed 5-2 in what later became a pitcher’s duel.
Tuesday’s 1 p.m. start time was pushed back an hour by nighttime rains, and the delay appeared to affect both starting pitchers.
In the first, Bruin junior Anjelica Selden (6-3) walked in a run after loading the bases. LMU’s starter Tiffany Pagano (4-5) responded by walking the bases loaded before salvaging her set.
The Lions (12-8) squeezed Selden for one more run in the second, prompting UCLA coach Kelly Inouye-Perez to warm up her bullpen.
Selden quickly recovered, in part due to senior catcher Jaisa Creps’ efforts. Creps did more than simply encourage her pitcher, though.
“Here we go! (Pagano’s) nothing. Let’s do this,” Creps shouted to the dugout, after a strong fly to left center stayed in the park in the bottom of the second.
“Hopefully she can have this spirit every day,” Inouye-Perez said of her catcher. “(Creps’) greatest asset is that she makes people better. Because of that, she’s a real leader.”
Creps’ fire caught in the next inning, when Selden allowed only one hit and the Bruins took advantage of walks and singles to score three and take the lead.
Creps said her rapport with Selden allows the pair to work extremely well together.
“I can read her like a book,” Creps said. “I know when I need to tell (Selden) that she needs to be better and when she’s alright. We work well together.”
“(Creps) does a great job of keeping (Selden) calm and loose,” Inouye-Perez said.
Selden iced the Lions, striking out 11 players over seven innings en route to the win.
Pagano was less fortunate and less successful, giving up two more runs in the fifth before being relieved by Melissa Dykema.
Pagano walked seven, eliciting groans and complaints from the LMU faithful.
Inouye-Perez, on the other hand, was proud of her team’s batting eye.
“That’s always the object, getting quality at-bats,” she said.
One of those with said at-bats was senior Jodie Legaspi, who walked twice in going one-for-two and scoring two runs. Legaspi turned 22 on Tuesday.
“(Legaspi’s) not losing anything with age,” Creps said of her teammate and friend. “She’s an anchor on offense and in the infield; she’s really stepped up as a leader.”
“She’s an excellent athlete and a great person,” Inouye-Perez added. “She’s the epitome of a Bruin.”
It’s not difficult, however, to apply that last phrase to every member of the Bruin line-up.
The Bruins play again this weekend, hosting the Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament in Easton Stadium.