This post was updated Feb. 19 at 2:28 p.m.

Hurdles are typically mentioned when referring to track and field.

But for the Bruins, the hurdles were the teams they faced in Florida.

After being shut out by No. 1 Tennessee (10-0) and falling to No. 19 Oklahoma State (6-4) and No. 7 Florida State (9-2), No. 11 UCLA softball (7-3) looks ahead to the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, California, this weekend.

“This was another different challenge for us,” coach Kelly Inouye-Perez said. “I just wanted to remind them … to play together, but they also individually had to – in my words – level up and compete in their ability to show how we respond.”

The Bruins will face a mix of ranked and unranked squads throughout the four-day tournament. They will battle Auburn (9-2) on Thursday, Nevada (6-5) and No. 14 Duke (8-3) on Friday, Fresno State (3-4) and No. 22 South Carolina (7-2) on Saturday and No. 13 Texas A&M (7-3) on Sunday.

The Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic is well renowned in the softball world, bridging collegiate teams across America. The event will host nine of the nation’s top-25 teams. The games typically allow teams to identify what improvements they need to make before entering conference play, as matchups are selected to test and condition both parties.

The Bruins have the chance to bolster their defense to help secure wins in the desert.

“I know I have a great defense behind me, just keeping that in the back of my mind,” said freshman pitcher Natalie Cable. “I can go out there and be myself and not worry about anything.”

Cable started against Tennessee last weekend and recorded a loss, allowing six earned runs across 2.1 innings.

When the Bruins win, seniors utility Megan Grant and infielder Jordan Woolery often dominate. Grant leads the team in batting average with a .522 clip, and Woolery boasts a .433 average.

Grant has also hammered nine home runs thus far, and Woolery has notched six, good for first and second on the team, respectively. The senior tandem has accounted for nearly half of the team’s 30 home-run tally.

“The game is the game for me,” Grant said. “So just working one at a time with everything that we do – one pitch at a time – not really focusing on the scoreboard or anything like that.”

Sophomore outfielder Rylee Slimp is also a leading contributor at the leadoff position. Slimp is batting .484 and has 15 hits across the first 10 games.

This showcase marks the second-to-last weekend before the Bruins will open conference play March 6 against Wisconsin at Easton Stadium.

And the Bruins will look to rely on the foundation they have built to achieve success.

“We have a great culture,” Inouye-Perez said. “We have great coaches and great players that are taking (it) all in, and they’re going to find their way. The goal is to get them to settle into their game as quickly as possible.”