Undefeated softball team hopes to maintain win streak at Cathedral City Classic invitational
Sophomore infielder Kellie Fox and the currently undefeated women’s softball team will travel to the Cathedral City Classic this weekend.
Georgia
Today, 5:30 p.m.
Cathedral City, Calif.
No TV info
Info: UCLA begins play at the Cathedral City Classic against Georgia today.
By Emma Coghlan
Feb. 24, 2012 12:36 a.m.
To the Bruins, it’s not a 10-0 start that puts a target on their backs ““ it’s the name on the front of their uniforms.
The UCLA softball team is undefeated, but according to senior outfielder Andrea Harrison, it shouldn’t be any other way.
“When you’re a Bruin, it’s a given that everyone wants to beat you, that you’ve got a target on you,” she said.
As the Bruins come out of their last invitational with five more wins under their belt, they look to take five more, to improve to 15-0, as they face Georgia, Fresno State, Texas, Missouri and Syracuse at the Cathedral City Classic starting today and ending Sunday.
UCLA holds winning records over each and every one of the teams it will face this weekend.
Still, the upcoming Classic seems to hold more challenging competition than the Bruins have faced so far this season, with three ranked teams taking the field against UCLA ““ No. 13 Georgia, No. 11 Missouri and No. 8 Texas.
The Bruins were placed fourth in the Pac-12 preseason rankings, behind Arizona State, California and Arizona, but they now lead the conference in several categories including offensive batting average, hits, doubles, opposing batting average and earned run average.
Though the team’s offensive power showed up consistently throughout the Bruins’ first nine games, a 1-0 win over San Diego State on Sunday was their first real challenge with the bat.
Coach Kelly Inouye-Perez’s mantra of “defense is what wins games” showed itself to be as important as it has been all season. Though the Bruins managed only one run off an illegal pitch from the Aztecs, the defense held together, both in the pitching and on the bases.
When the Bruins’ offense does get going, it is on in every form. The team does not have to rely on just home runs or just base hits to score ““ they can do it all.
“Everywhere in the lineup someone can hit bombs or lay down bunts, that’s why our team is so versatile,” said sophomore infielder Kellie Fox. “Anyone can do it at any time.”
UCLA started the season ranked No. 13 by ESPN/USA Softball and ranked No. 19 by The National Fastpitch Coaches Association/USA Today.
Their first week obviously proved that they deserved much more, as they leapt to 5/7. Although the boost in the rankings is nice to see, coach Inouye-Perez knows that is not what will define her team’s season.
“I believe that we are the best team in the country, but that isn’t something that you can prove until the season ends.”
