Softball: Softball struggles at the plate
By Vinh Trang
March 2, 2005 9:00 p.m.
After firing on all cylinders at the start of the season, the
UCLA softball team has only posted three runs in its last three
games.
As the team gets set to play Kent State in the opening game of
the Bulldog Classic today in Fresno, UCLA coach Sue Enquist has
made it a point to have her team improve its performance at the
plate.
“I want to see my club hit the ball up the middle,”
Enquist said. “I’m just looking for us to drill the
ball hard and if we do that I know our pitching will be
there.”
In their game against Texas last Sunday at the Palm Springs
Classic, the Bruins (11-4) left the bases loaded twice and stranded
10 runners. In that same tournament, they left nine runners on base
in a loss to Oklahoma State and eight in a win over Wisconsin.
“We’re not able to execute the offensive
plan,” Enquist said. “We’re guessing. When you
see my team swinging at balls out of the strike zone, you know
we’re not playing well.”
The lack of discipline was evident against the Longhorns and
Cowboys when the Bruins could only muster one run in the two games
combined.
“Oklahoma State qualified as a debacle,” Enquist
said. “Against Texas, we just beat ourselves.”
In the Texas game, two uncharacteristic infield errors by the
Bruins in extra innings led to a pair of Longhorn runs. The miscues
ruined an effective pitching outing by freshman Anjelica
Selden.
“We are a much better infield than we showed, and I feel
really good about our physical skills,” Enquist said.
“We just have to be mentally sharp to stay in the game.
Selden has that ability to lure you into watching instead of
playing. We’ll get better at that.”
This weekend should offer UCLA a good opportunity to show it has
improved at the plate. The only ranked team the Bruins will play in
the six-game tournament is No. 19 Fresno State.
