Bruins split doubleheader against Fullerton; team plans to fix errors

  MICHAEL MANTEL Sophomore slugger Claire
Sua is late on her swing as she tries to make contact with
a pitch.

By Michael Sneag
Daily Bruin Contributor

Consistency. It’s easy to talk about, but not always easy
to accomplish.

The UCLA softball team split a doubleheader against Cal State
Fullerton on Wednesday at Easton Stadium, losing the first game
3-1, but coming back to win 5-2 in the second.

All of the runs given up by the top ranked Bruins (18-2) in the
two games were unearned, and that is something that concerns the
team.

“We are not at the point where we are playing at a level
that is acceptable for UCLA softball,” head coach Sue Enquist
explained. “We have to be able to execute and today we fell
short. However, I don’t want to magnify things. It is not a
huge issue. We are just in a bit of a lull.”

Sophomore Keira Goerl picked up the loss in the first game. The
game was scoreless heading into the bottom of the fifth, before
junior shortstop Natasha Watley hit a two-out RBI triple to score
sophomore outfielder Stephanie Ramos, who had doubled to start the
inning.

“I have been working on hitting for more power this
season, rather than slapping the ball, and today it showed,”
Watley said.

The Titans (9-9) came back to take the lead in the top of the
sixth, putting up a three-spot. All of the runs were unearned
because of a Watley error on a bobbled grounder.

The inning was saved, however, by a diving catch behind first
base by second baseman Monique Mejia, who ranged far to her left
and sprawled all out for the popout. Quickly getting up, she
doubled off the runner on second to end the inning.

Titans pitcher Gina Oaks was able to keep the Bruins off the
scoreboard for the rest of the game, giving the Bruins their second
loss of the season.

Coming back in the second game, Amanda Freed dominated. She had
12 strikeouts, keeping hitters completely off balance with an
assortment of risers, fastballs and change-ups. A towering home run
by Yasmin Moasagedhi in the sixth did end both the no-hitter and
the shutout, but overall, it was a completely dominant
performance.

“I felt good,” Freed said. “I haven’t
felt really good in a long time.

Offensively, the Bruins scored two runs in the third as Watley
again provided offensive punch with her second homer of the season,
scoring Mejia who had battled and earned a walk in front of
her.

“As a team, it was good to come back strong and get things
done,” Freed said. “We did a good job on defense and
our offense was there when we needed it.”

The Bruins struck again in the fourth, as Freed and senior
infielder Stacey Nuveman had bases-loaded RBI singles and junior
infielder Tairia Mims earned an RBI of her own with a bases-loaded
walk, giving the Bruins a 5-0 lead.

Dealing with the expectations for this team are never easy, but
if the Bruins can find some consistency, they are talented enough
to bring another championship to Westwood.