Last season, the UCLA softball team entered the Women’s College World Series with one thing in mind: winning a national championship.
After breezing through Regional and Super-Regional play, the Bruins were in prime position to make a run at the title. Two teams ruined those ambitions.
No. 14 UCLA (7-4) gets an early chance at revenge against both No. 1 Tennessee (9-0) and No. 12 Northwestern (6-4) at the Palm Springs Classic this weekend.
“We kind of feel like we owe them something,” senior first/second baseman and pitcher Lisa Dodd said, “(Last year), it wasn’t really us, and I think we just want a chance to prove that it was just a fluke, and we’re gunning for them.”
The Bruins have not played up to the expectations of many this season, experiencing a substantial drop in the rankings after four losses in 11 games. Even more surprisingly, two of the losses were drubbings at the hands of unranked New Mexico and Oklahoma State.
After facing Michigan State in the first game of the Palm Springs Classic today, the Bruins will have a chance to make quick amends for their early struggles against the top-ranked Lady Volunteers in the nightcap.
“You never try to make the game bigger than it is,” first-year coach Kelly Inouye-Perez said. “Regardless of our (opponents) this weekend, we’re really just trying to get our own team on task.”
Despite the team’s early struggles, Inouye-Perez has found some early leaders on the squad ““ both seniors and freshman alike.
Dodd, who garnered Pac-10 Player of the Week honors after a stellar performance at last week’s Louisville Slugger Desert Classic in Las Vegas, will again be called upon against the tough competition. Dodd is coming off one of her best games of the year, blasting a three-run home run while picking up the win in her first action in the circle this season against Wright State on Sunday.
“It was a surprise,” Dodd said in regard to her Pac-10 Player of the Week honors. “I was just trying to pick up my teammates and do the best I can. But I’m glad that someone from (our team) got it.”
Inouye-Perez has also received outstanding contributions from her freshmen in the early going. Freshmen Megan Langenfeld, Julie Burney and Kaila Shull have all established themselves as regulars in the lineup and have enjoyed plenty of early success.
Shull in particular has made a substantial impact. The outfielder/catcher is currently the Pac-10 leader in home runs (five), including a pair against Wright State.
“It’s exciting,” Shull said. “I benefit by being able to work off of our own pitching staff. By working with the best, it allows me to work with whatever I see.”
Inouye-Perez is happy to see these early standouts on her squad.
“It’s so exciting right now,” she said. “(Dodd) has been a great player, a great leader, and I believe the game is paying her back now. On top of that, it’s great to see that the freshmen, Megan Langenfeld and Kaila Shull, are doing great things. That just continues to show why UCLA continues to succeed.”