UCLA softball looks to recover from a two-game slide at San Diego Classic
By Min Kang
March 4, 2010 10:31 p.m.
To say that the UCLA softball team, currently on a two-game losing streak, is in a slump would not be doing it justice.
The Bruins are reeling.
And their next opponent, given their recent history with the Bruins, would be the last ones to show any pity.
Limping from a throttling 7-0 loss to Ohio State on Sunday and an embarrassing 3-2 defeat at UC Riverside on Wednesday, No. 5 UCLA (14-4) will attempt to right the ship against No. 21 Fresno State (9-4) today at the San Diego Classic.
The Bruins beat the Bulldogs three times last season, the last two of which eliminated Fresno State from the 2009 NCAA Tournament.
But as it stands now, the Bruin team is merely a shell of its former self, not a good sign when the next opponent is out for revenge.
“We know that Fresno State is a good team and that they’ll definitely bring their A game,” senior pitcher Megan Langenfeld said. “But right now, we want to concentrate on us and concentrate on the fact that we need to have that sense of urgency.”
Lately, the Bruins have shown more Hyde than Jekyll, a tendency that has left them no choice but to go back to the drawing board and re-establish their identity.
“Our plan is to keep on working and gaining information from every experience that we can get,” coach Kelly Inouye-Perez said. “Going back to the basics at this point is part of the plan. You just always have to get back to remembering how to play this game, and very clearly, we’re in that position right now.”
The solution starts even before a bat is swung or a pitch is thrown, according to Monica Harrison. Rather, it is only when the proper mindset is in place that the junior shortstop said the results will begin to show.
“I think that it’s just mentality,” Harrison said. “Our team has to get back to our championship mentality and come out hungry, set the tone early and not sit on any leads.”
After today’s rematch of the 2009 Los Angeles Regional, the Bruins will take on the University of Texas at El Paso, Texas, in the first of two games on Saturday. In the nightcap, UCLA will face Long Beach State, another familiar opponent from last year’s first round of postseason play.
The Bruins round out tournament play with another doubleheader on Sunday with a game against Buffalo followed by a matchup with host team San Diego State.
Schroeder update
Junior center fielder and All-American Katie Schroeder has missed the last 11 games because of a strained left calf. No timetable has been set for her return, and she is listed as day-to-day, according to Inouye-Perez.
