By John Suehiro
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
In 1998, Stephanie Swenson proved her worth as a college
softball pitcher by leading the UCLA pitching staff in several
major categories, including earned run average (ERA), wins and
strikeouts.
That’s why there wasn’t a doubt in anybody’s
mind that she could fill in as the No. 2 pitcher when junior
All-American Courtney Dale went down with a shoulder injury in late
February.
“Swenson is really a gamer,” senior catcher Julie
Marshall said. “She’s won a few big games and we
support her well with defense.”
Swenson’s emergence as a starting pitcher this season is
reminiscent of the 1998 season when the Bruins were prohibited from
participating in the Women’s College World Series. That year,
several starters from the 1997 runner-up team redshirted the
season, including former Bruin All-American Christie Ambrosi,
seniors Julie Adams and Marshall, redshirt junior Stacey Nuveman
and Dale. All in all, UCLA head coach Sue Enquist fielded a team
with only three scholarship players and nine newcomers.
“The 1998 team will always be a special memory because the
type of players we put together had so much respect for the
uniform,” Enquist said.
In addition, a depleted pitching staff needed a few new arms
because Dale was redshirting and 1997’s freshman phenom
Christa Williams, who posted a 21-8 record while striking out 218
batters in 205 innings, transferred to the University of Texas.
The pitchers who filled this void were a junior transfer named
Erin Weiler and Swenson ““ a hard-throwing right-handed
freshman from San Clemente High School.
For Swenson, stepping onto the field in a Bruin uniform was a
little intimidating at first. But she quickly managed to calm her
nerves, pitching a one-hitter in a 7-1 opening day victory over St.
Mary’s.
“(UCLA is) a tough program and has such a great
tradition,” Swenson said. “I was nervous about being a
part of it.”
Although the Bruins finished seventh in the Pac-10 that year,
Swenson provided many moments of greatness that stood out,
including victories over No. 9 Stanford, No. 3 Washington, and No.
16 Arizona State. She also led the team with a 2.21 ERA, nine wins,
136.1 innings pitched, and 57 strikeouts.
“Swenson was one of our leaders that year,” Enquist
said.
A year later, Dale’s return to the pitching rotation and
the signing of national high school player of the year Amanda Freed
limited Swenson to more of a supporting role as she pitched just
17.2 innings. The Bruins also got back the other players who
redshirted in 1998 and went on to win the Women’s College
World Series. At that point, it looked as if the Dale-Freed duo was
unstoppable and would lead UCLA again in 2000.
Then fate brought Swenson back into the starting rotation.
On Feb. 25, Dale was diagnosed with a torn labrum in her
pitching shoulder and would be unable to pitch until late April.
The Bruins, who had gotten off to a strong start in search of
another NCAA championship, temporarily lost one of their key
assets.
“It was a downer to have Courtney go down because
she’s a great pitcher and leader,” Swenson said.
The news came right before a doubleheader with then-No. 5 Fresno
State. At that point, Enquist knew something had to be done to lift
the team’s spirits. So she turned to Swenson to pick up where
Dale had left off.
“The team was really down when we got confirmation of
Dale’s injury” Enquist said. “So I just said,
“˜Hey, lets go for it with Steph.'”
That day, the Bruins went out and swept the Bulldogs with
Swenson tossing a one-hit shutout in the opening game.
“Because I was the backup pitcher, it was a sudden twist
from what I was expecting this year,” Swenson said.
According to Enquist, that win was the pivotal moment for
Swenson, as she has only lost one game since and has compiled a
sub-one ERA (0.81) on the season after allowing just nine earned
runs in 77.2 innings of work.
Enquist also attributes Swenson’s emergence this season as
a more dominating pitcher to her ability to improve with every
inning she pitches.
“She does better and better the more she throws and never
makes the same mistake twice,” she said.
And Swenson seconds that notion.
“I feel more confident and I have a little more wisdom
with a few years behind me,” she said.
Despite Swenson’s improvements in the pitching circle,
there has also been something constant during her years at UCLA:
She gives up very few home runs. In fact, not one opposing batter
has hit one against her this season. And her catcher knows why.
“She keeps the ball low, hits her spots and keeps opposing
teams off balance,” Marshall said.
Now that Dale has returned to the Bruin pitching staff, it will
be interesting to see what kind of role Swenson will have next
season. Any speculation, however, will generate no results because
Enquist is not even thinking that far ahead just yet.
“I’m going to need all three to get through
regionals,” Enquist said.
And for Swenson, who was just awarded All-Pac-10 honorable
mention honors, any role she is given will be just fine.
“I’m out there for the team when they need
me,” she said.