Wednesday, March 11, 1998
Bruins slide out of slump in spite of struggles
SOFTBALL: Teamwork results in a 10th-inning victory over Notre
Dame
By Kimberly Edds
Daily Bruin Contributor
Dreams can come true – just ask Lupe Brambila.
The walk-on freshman right-fielder scored the winning run in
UCLA softball’s 10th-inning 4-3 victory over Notre Dame (5-10)
Tuesday.
"We came out with the win and that’s the important thing,"
Brambila said.
The extra-inning win was in large part due to Karen Hoshizaki’s
single to center field, which was handled badly by Notre Dame
center-fielder Jennifer Giampaolo, allowing Brambila to score.
UCLA (10-7) jumped to a 1-0 lead in the second inning when
designated hitter Marin Noak scored, but Notre Dame rallied in the
top of the fifth with three runs, taking the lead 3-1.
UCLA answered Notre Dame with one run in the bottom of the
fifth.
It was not until the seventh inning that the Bruins tied the
score at three with a sacrifice fly to center by third baseman
Jenny Gardner to score shortstop Nicole Odom.
Winning pitcher Stephanie Swenson pitched a complete game for
the Bruins. With this victory, Swenson improves to a record of
4-5.
"Stephanie’s getting better and better. I have a lot of
confidence in her ability to get us out of tough situations," head
coach Sue Enquist said.
UCLA struggled offensively, which may be partially due to the
fact that their normal lead-off hitter and starting second-baseman
Laurie Fritz is out with a dislocated shoulder. Replacing her was
freshman Casey Hirawiwa, who went one for three with one run.
Offensive staple Nicole Odom had a tough day at the plate, going
one for three.
"I was a little disappointed in myself offensively, but I’m glad
that we won as a team," Odom said.
Defensively, however, the Bruins came out on top, committing
only one error and making several spectacular plays, including a
head-first dive by Hirawiwa to get the out at first at the top of
the 10th inning.
The win comes after the Bruins finished the Fresno State Classic
1-3, losing games to Tennessee, Indiana and No. 5 Fresno State. The
team did pull out a 6-3 win against No. 22 Kansas thanks to the
pitching of Erin Weiler (6-2).DERRICK KUDO
Freshman Stephanie Swenson pitched a winning game for the
Bruins.