Homestand kicks off this weekend

By Andrew Borders
Daily Bruin Contributor

Seeing how easily the Bruins handled opening the season on the
road, their opponents this weekend don’t need another reason
to fear them.

But they do: UCLA is coming home.

The Bruin softball team (7-0) opens the home schedule at Easton
Stadium Saturday at 1 p.m. with a doubleheader against the San
Diego Toreros (2-2).

“It’s real exciting,” sophomore Monique Mejia
said, “because it marks the beginning of the season at home.
That’s where it really starts.”

If the combined 67-5 score over the seven games so far is any
indication, the Bruins look to showcase lots of firepower, both at
the plate and on the mound.

“Our offense is really strong, we’re making it hard
for the coaches to decide who plays where,” Mejia said.
“If we have a problem, it’s a good problem to
have.”

That’s not what the Toreros wanted to hear.

“Basically we’re going up against the best.
We’re hoping to give them a good game,” USD assistant
coach Amy Lopez said. “They have strength, power, excellent
pitchers.”

Junior catcher Stacey Nuveman leads UCLA in batting at .526 and
three more Bruins are over the .400 mark. On the mound, UCLA is
anchored by junior Amanda Freed, whose ERA is perfect at 0.00 and
whose opponents’ batting average is a scant .159. Behind
Freed, the Bruins boast senior Stephanie Swenson (1.27 ERA) and
freshman Keira Goerl (1.75 ERA).

Mejia cautions that the team isn’t going to take San Diego
lightly.

“I don’t see that happening on this team,” she
said.

If the Bruins need any reminder that their opponents pack a
punch as well, San Diego catcher Jennifer Bridges provided reason
to give the Toreros high regard.

“We came out strong this year offensively, we’re
versatile, we have people who can play a lot of positions,”
she said. ” We have a strong defense.”

The Toreros boast Jade Quentin, a pitcher who also contributes
at the plate. The senior is batting .455 in the her 11 at bats so
far, and has a 3.50 ERA in her two starts this year.

San Diego will likely also use Anna Russell, who has started
USD’s other two games this season. Opponents are batting a
mere .179 against the freshman pitcher who has also compiled a
meager 1.24 ERA.

UCLA’s opposition can wield a fine bat as well. Sophomore
Lora McBay is hitting .429 in the young season and Bridges is
batting .400.

Lopez spoke proudly about San Diego’s pitching staff.

“I’ve been really pleased with them. They’re
starting to develop and become mature pitchers,” she
said.

The teams have played three times in the past two seasons, with
the Bruins winning in 1999 7-0 and 2-1, and last season 2-0.

“Hopefully San Diego will be up for a big game,”
said Nuveman.

Meanwhile, the Toreros won’t be quaking in their
cleats.

“The team is very strong, as they are each year, and we
are anxious to have the opportunity to play with them,” San
Diego coach Lin Adams said.