UCLA softball prepares for tough play at Mary Nutter Classic
Pitcher Jessica Hall has been an integral part of UCLA’s strong defensive performance this season. The senior has yet to allow an earned run on the year and carries a 4-0 record into the weekend. (Joseph Chan/Daily Bruin)
By Bianca Hock
Feb. 21, 2014 1:04 a.m.
The UCLA softball team will travel to Cathedral City to defend its undefeated record in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic this weekend.
The Bruins will kick off the desert tournament Friday with a showdown against 2013 NCAA champion Oklahoma.
At the Big League Dreams Sports Parks’ Wrigley Field, UCLA will face three ranked softball teams for the first time this season.
With two tournament wins under its belt, UCLA hopped up to a No. 8 ranking in the USA Today/NFCA rankings and ninth in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll.
However, senior pitcher Jessica Hall says rankings do not affect the Bruins’ mindset.
“We’re a whole new team this year and no matter what the rankings say, we’re going to play like we’re number one,” said Hall.
After Friday’s game against the No. 13 defending champion Sooners this weekend, the Bruins play the No. 16 Missouri Tigers on Saturday and the No. 11 Nebraska Cornhuskers on Sunday.
Going undefeated in the Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament last weekend may foreshadow a good upcoming tourney for the Bruins, but a few close calls against Robert Morris and LMU last weekend could also indicate otherwise.
Hall said UCLA had trouble putting hits together as a result of the Bruins being too hungry at the plate.
“Instead of trying to get singles or doubles and just string some runs together, we were trying to hit the big bombs (last weekend),” Hall said.
Sophomore infielder Brittany Moeai isn’t concerned heading into this weekend. Moeai believes that despite the team’s recent struggles at the plate, the Bruins have what it takes to deliver offensively this tournament.
“I think our hitting will come around,” said Moeai, “I know our opponents are going to get a lot harder, (but) we’ll pull through.”
Moeai says she and her teammates are excited about the increasing competition.
“I am very excited – being able to compete and play against better teams is just going to bring the competitiveness out of us,” Moeai said.
The Bruins have definitely been competing and “bringing it” defensively.
Throughout the past 11 games, only six runs have been scored against the Bruins this season.
However, strong defense alone cannot keep UCLA undefeated and the Bruins know that.
UCLA will need to bring their A game offensively if they wish to defeat a defending champion and other highly ranked teams.
“We’re excited about getting tested this weekend,” said coach Kelly Inouye-Perez.
Inouye-Perez said that she and her team are looking forward to seeing how they play against better competition.
“We’re on a journey to find some consistency and … learn about ourselves,” Inouye-Perez said.
