Softball ups intensity in anticipation of upcoming 5-game weekend in Florida

For the first time this season, the Bruins have the opportunity to bounce back from a loss.

After suffering its first defeat of the campaign to No. 1 Oklahoma on Saturday, No. 3 UCLA softball (4-1) will travel to Clearwater, Florida, for five games in three days at the St. Pete Clearwater Elite Invitational from Friday to Sunday. The Bruins’ weekend will begin with games against Northwestern and Auburn – the two teams receiving the most votes outside the top 25 – before finishing the tournament versus No. 11 Texas, Wisconsin and No. 5 Florida State.

Redshirt senior infielder Kinsley Washington said the team did not play up to its standard against Oklahoma a week ago and has subsequently upped the intensity at practice.

“We have a tradition of excellence, and I think it was clear that during that Oklahoma game, we didn’t uphold that standard,” Washington said. “When we got back to practice that following Monday, it was really just focusing on where we are as a team and where we see ourselves in the future.”

Although UCLA was held to one run against Oklahoma, it will still bring one of the nation’s top scoring offenses to Florida.

Paced by Washington’s team-high nine RBIs and two home runs, UCLA’s 9.6 runs per game mark is tied for fifth in the nation, and the team’s lineup features eight eligible players hitting .300 or better. After boasting a .330 batting average, .443 slugging percentage and six home runs through her first four seasons in Westwood, Washington is hitting .500, slugging 1.000 and has hit a pair of home runs to start the 2022 campaign.

The fifth-year Bruin said her growth in confidence has improved her aggression and success at the plate.

“(I’m) believing more in my ability to drive the ball,” Washington said. “In my freshman year (and) sophomore year, I really focused on reading the defense and trying to almost trick the defense.”

The blue and gold’s offense will go up against two of the top seven pitching staffs in the country this weekend as Florida State has yet to allow a run and Auburn ranks seventh nationally with a 0.52 ERA.

At the previous St. Pete Clearwater Elite Invitational in 2020, UCLA defeated three top-15 opponents and won all five of its games. But unlike the 2020 pitching staff that relied on then-sophomore pitcher Megan Faraimo – who threw for more than half of the team’s innings in the shortened season – this year’s staff has more versatility, according to the current redshirt junior.

“It’s extremely important to have a well-rounded staff, and I’m really thankful that we do have that,” Faraimo said. “All of us complement each other.”

Faraimo, redshirt sophomore pitcher/utility Lexi Sosa, redshirt senior pitcher Holly Azevedo and graduate student pitcher Lauren Shaw are all expected to see the circle in the weekend tournament.

With the tournament set to be televised by ESPN, coach Kelly Inouye-Perez said she’s excited to play on national TV because it allows the sport of softball and the Bruin program to gain more attention and grow.

“(ESPN has done) a great job growing our sports, and it’s allowed for our sport to get into the living room (of viewers),” Inouye-Perez said. “I always love that opportunity for people to see UCLA softball. … It’s an opportunity for people that may not be able to travel to the West Coast to see us play.”

UCLA will begin the St. Pete Clearwater Elite Invitational against Northwestern at 10 a.m. on Friday on ESPN+.