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Softball defeats Georgia to stay on track for 11th NCAA Championship

By Chris Chen

June 6, 2010 5:16 p.m.

It only took two swings, and the fifth-seeded UCLA softball team (48-11) found themselves back in the championship round of the Women’s College World Series.

Freshman B.B. Bates hit a two-run home run in the second inning, and sophomore Samantha Camuso added a three-run homer in the third to give the Bruins a lead they would not relinquish, as they took a 5-2 victory over sixth-seeded Georgia (50-13).

With a record-breaking eight home runs in the World Series, the Bruins are seemingly locked in at swinging for the fences.

But with the likes of senior Megan Langenfeld ““ who limited the Bulldogs to just two runs on two hits in a complete-game effort ““ pitching at such a high level, the long ball is just one of the many factors that could help bring home UCLA’s 11th NCAA softball championship.

And it wasn’t easy; Langenfeld had to fight through quite some pain to still pitch so effectively.

“I’m just forming some blisters on a few of my fingers, but it’s something that you just fight through and you kind of just forget about it,” Langenfeld said. “You pitch through pain, you play through pain. Whatever you can do to get the “˜W’ is kind of what I think. So if that means tearing my fingers apart, then I’ll tear my fingers apart to get the win.”

This mentality is a big reason why the Bruins have advanced this far. The idea of sacrificing for the betterment of the team has been the Bruins’ mantra throughout the season.

“Every team sets out on a mission, on a journey to be able to get to this point in the season,” coach Kelly Inouye-Perez said. “Every coach’s hope is to be able to have your players play their best when they need to be at their best.”

And with the passing of UCLA treasure John Wooden on Friday, the Bruins made certain to play with a passion and selflessness that characterized the Wizard’s championship teams.

“He’s a big part of why people want to come to UCLA and continue this tradition instead of going someplace else and being first,” Inouye-Perez said. “So absolutely, we played with inspiration today. He’s a part of our world, and part of the UCLA family and we take great pride in it.”

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