ONLINE EXTRA: Softball faces Long Beach Today

  MICHAEL MANTEL Junior second baseman Monique
Mejia and the Bruins aren’t concerned about their offense
as much as their inconsistent defense.

By Jon Corwin
Daily Bruin Contributor

It’s hard to find fault with a No. 1 ranked team that
sports an impressive .390 batting average and miniscule 0.50 ERA.
But spotty defense has plagued the UCLA softball team this season,
which heads upstate to take part in the San Jose State National
Invitational Tournament this weekend.

“The focus this week in practice has been on
defense,” UCLA head coach Sue Enquist said. “But we
don’t want to let one weakness dominate our
preparation.”

UCLA (23-2) is coming off a three game sweep this past weekend
that saw them pound out 24 runs, while limiting their opponents to
just four. Even with the impressive record and offensive numbers,
the team knows that they have yet to play their best softball of
the season.

“We haven’t all been on at the same time this
season,” junior shortstop Natasha Watley said. “It is
good that we are learning from our mistakes now instead of
later.”

The Bruins will face Long Beach State (17-8) on Friday, a team
responsible for one of UCLA’s two losses on the year.

“This is a great shot to redeem ourselves for the earlier
loss,” Enquist said.

UCLA will also take on UNC-Greensboro Friday, as part of a
tournament that features four top 20 teams, including Pac-10 powers
Arizona State and Cal.

UCLA hurlers Keira Goerl and Amanda Freed have been nearly
unhittable this year, with Freed picking up the most recent Pac-10
Pitcher of the Week honors thanks to her 4-0 mark and 0.27 ERA in
her last four starts. Freed already has earned Pac-10 Player of the
Week honors this season.

On the offensive side of things, senior infielder Stacey Nuveman
is hitting a robust .576 with eight home runs on the campaign, and
has been helped by leadoff hitter and spark plug Watley, who is
hitting at a .548 clip to go along with her 21 steals.

Even with the inconsistencies that Enquist has seen from her
team thus far, she knows that they are capable of great things.

“We’re the best inconsistent team in the country
right now,” Enquist said. “We need to plow through and
get to the next level.”