Thursday, March 5, 1998
Tough times abound as UCLA heads for tourney
SOFTBALL: Bruins say injuries, probation won’t shake their
team’s spirit
By Kimberly Edds
Daily Bruin Contributor
Tough times just got tougher for the UCLA softball team.
As if playing without the benefit of five returners who decided
to redshirt the 1998 season because of the team’s suspension from
the NCAA tournament was not enough, lead-off hitter and starting
second baseman Laurie Fritz dislocated her shoulder sliding into
second in Saturday’s Alumni game.
This injury will most likely prevent Fritz from starting at
second when the team plays Indiana in the Fresno State Classic
today.
"That’s a big hole for us to fill in terms of leadership,
offensive attack and defensive play," Enquist said.
Versatile freshman Casey Hiraiwa is the probable candidate to
fill in at second when UCLA faces Indiana, Tennessee, Kansas and
Fresno State in the tournament this weekend, all of which, with the
exception of Indiana, are ranked in the top 25.
There is another hole in the Bruin roster this weekend. Senior
center-fielder Danielle Martin is ill and will not make the trip
with the team.
No. 2 Fresno State looks to be UCLA’s toughest competition in
the tournament, but Enquist and her team refuse to look past their
first opponent, Indiana.
"I think that we just have to take it one day at a time, one
game at a time," senior shortstop Nicole Odom said.
Tennessee, Kansas and Indiana all have the advantage of
experience over UCLA. The Bruins hope to counter with hard work and
determination.
If the team’s performance in the final two games in the
Campbell/Cartier Classic last weekend is any indication, UCLA will
be in every game.
After dropping the first four games, the Bruins came out strong
to shut out San Diego State 8-0 and Eastern Michigan 3-0. The
tournament provided an opportunity for a young UCLA team to expose
their weaknesses and learn from their mistakes.
UCLA is going to have to execute on both offense and defense if
they want to be competitive against Fresno, which is a very
balanced team with experience and depth.
Bruin pitchers Stephanie Swenson (3-3) and Erin Weiler (5-1)
both have the possibility of being effective against Fresno. Both
Weiler and Swenson proved themselves in the Campbell/Cartier
tournament.
Besides pitching, the Bruins bring to the tournament bats that
are capable of getting clutch hits in Odom, who is batting .371,
and first baseman Kim Wuest, who boasts a .394 average. Fritz’s
absence will be felt in the lineup, as the team struggles to fill
the lead-off spot.