Friday, March 29, 2024

AdvertiseDonateSubmit
NewsSportsArtsOpinionThe QuadPhotoVideoIllustrationsCartoonsGraphicsThe StackPRIMEEnterpriseInteractivesPodcastsBruinwalkClassifieds

UCLA softball to return home for final contests before start of Pac-12 play

Redshirt junior utility Anna Vines awaits a pitch in the batter’s box in a game against UC San Diego on Feb. 11. Vines and No. 5 UCLA softball will return to Easton Stadium at the Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament after four weeks of contests on the road. (Patrick Shao/Daily Bruin)

Softball


Pennsylvania
Thursday, 7 p.m.

Easton Stadium
No TV info
CSU Bakersfield
Friday, 4:30 p.m.

Easton Stadium
No TV info
Fresno State
Friday, 7 p.m.

Easton Stadium
No TV info
Fresno State
Saturday, 2 p.m.

Easton Stadium
No TV info
CSU Bakersfield
Saturday, 4:30 p.m.

Easton Stadium
No TV info

By Jordan Coyle

March 10, 2022 12:24 a.m.

After four weeks on the road, the Bruins are coming home.

No. 5 UCLA softball (17-3) will return to Easton Stadium this week to host three opponents in the Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament. The blue and gold will hit the diamond for five games, beginning with a matchup against Pennsylvania (2-11) on Thursday night before consecutive CSU Bakersfield (2-6) and Fresno State (3-15) doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday.

During UCLA’s undefeated outing at the Judi Garman Classic last week, two Bruin pitchers etched their names in school history. Redshirt junior pitcher/first baseman Megan Faraimo tossed her second collegiate perfect game against Fresno State on Thursday, and redshirt senior pitcher Holly Azevedo earned her 50th career win in the circle against Texas A&M on Saturday, making her the 19th player in program history to reach that milestone.

Azevedo said her achievement was the culmination of years of hard work.

“Every game that I go out and pitch, I put all my effort in and know I’ve prepared during the week and during the whole year,” Azevedo said. “Any team can beat you, but reaching this goal and that milestone just shows me that all the work I put in throughout the years really pays off.”

While UCLA has yet to face Pennsylvania this century, CSU Bakersfield and Fresno State have been regular nonconference opponents for the blue and gold. Since 2008, the Bruins have gone 7-0 against the Roadrunners and 11-1 against the Bulldogs, with last week’s 12-0 win over Fresno State featuring Faraimo’s five-inning perfect game.

This week’s tournament marks UCLA’s final contests before beginning Pac-12 play versus Arizona on March 19. Redshirt junior utility Anna Vines said the key to maintaining the team’s momentum in these last tuneup games is to keep it simple.

“We’re going to keep reminding ourselves to just focus on one thing at a time and rely on each other and try not to do too much,” Vines said. “We work a lot on just staying simple, so I think doing that will allow us to stay successful this weekend and keep our momentum.”

The Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament marks not only a homecoming for the Bruins after weeks of away games but also a chance for the program to honor a former UCLA player who died in 2001. Stacy Winsberg won three national championships with the blue and gold in 1982, 1984 and 1985 before serving as a conditioning coach for the U.S. Women’s Softball National Team at the 2000 Olympics.

The Bruins will also celebrate UCLA Softball Alumni Day on Saturday, which will include a recognition of the 40-year anniversary of the 1982 championship team and the 30-year anniversary of the 1992 championship team. Coach Kelly Inouye-Perez and assistant coach Lisa Fernandez were teammates on the 1992 team as a catcher and a pitcher, respectively.

Inouye-Perez said she looks forward to reuniting with her former teammates as well as welcoming back other former Bruins.

“It’ll be nice for me to be able to have the opportunity to recognize those champions that haven’t come back to their house,” Inouye-Perez said. “I always look forward to seeing the alumni. The biggest part of our program is being able to continue to recognize those Bruins that walk before us.”

Among the dozens of Bruin greats set to attend Saturday’s celebration are former All-Americans Tracy Compton Davis, Yvonne Gutierrez and Natasha Watley.

UCLA will kick off the tournament against Pennsylvania at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Share this story:FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Jordan Coyle | Sports contributor
Coyle is currently a Sports contributor on the softball beat.
Coyle is currently a Sports contributor on the softball beat.
COMMENTS
Featured Classifieds
More classifieds »
Related Posts