Softball: Focus on home runs results in loss

Trailing 1-0 in the sixth inning, UCLA looked like it was about
to break Wednesday’s game wide open.

But looks can be deceiving.

Washington pitcher Ashley Boek escaped a bases-loaded,
nobody-out jam for the second time in the game as the Huskies
defeated the host Bruins 1-0.

UCLA senior pitcher Keira Goerl was the hard-luck loser,
allowing just one hit, a home run to Washington’s Kathy Fiske
in the fifth inning.

“I threw a good game, and I made a mistake,” Goerl
said.

It was only the second time UCLA has been shut out all season,
but the Bruins (34-8, 7-7 Pac-10) weren’t lacking
opportunities to score against Washington (35-13, 9-5 Pac-10).

They loaded the bases with no outs in both the third and sixth
innings, but their bats fell silent.

Both times the Bruins grounded into double plays to cool off the
threat, and they could not get a clutch hit off Boek (24-7).

“That’s just inexcusable,” coach Sue Enquist
said. “Double play situation, you have to go up the
middle-right side. But that means you’re maybe not going to
be able to put it over the fence.”

Even when the Bruins didn’t have the bases loaded, they
usually had runners in scoring position, and Boek had to work out
of jams all game long.

But UCLA’s hitters helped Boek by trying to swing for the
fences and putting too much pressure on key at bats, Enquist
said.

“We emotionally make every game-winning or tying
opportunity so big that we don’t perform to our full
potential,” Enquist said.

Throughout the season, UCLA has has relied on the long ball for
its offense. But Washington refused to give senior Claire Sua
““ UCLA’s hottest hitter in conference play ““
anything to hit: They walked her three times.

Enquist said her players will need to change their approach at
the plate to get runs on the board.

While Enquist said it may be time for a change, sophomore
Caitlin Benyi said the team just needs to get a hit at the right
time.

“We need to get some clutch hits,” Benyi said.
“It doesn’t matter what the situation is, we just have
to get them.”

Without any run support, Goerl (20-6) was stuck with the loss
despite making only one mistake.

“It really stinks to be Goerl. She has to be
perfect,” Enquist said. “We’re better than that
and the team knows they’re better than that.”