NICOLE MILLER Sophomore shortstop/outfielder
Natasha Watley throws the ball.
By Vytas Mazeika
Daily Bruin Contributor
Before Wednesday, not a single team outside of the Pac-10 could
overcome the UCLA softball team’s deadly combo of powerful
pitching and relentless offense.
So it’s no surprise that the top-ranked Bruins (35-0)
obliterated UC Santa Barbara 6-1 in a two-hour, fifty-minute affair
at UCSB’s Campus Diamond to complete an undefeated
pre-conference schedule.
The 35 wins match UCLA’s 1999 record for best start to a
season and put the squad only one victory away from tying the
school mark for most consecutive wins.
Bruin senior pitcher Courtney Dale improved to 4-0 with a
dominant six-inning performance. Dale allowed only a single hit
while striking out six and walking none.
The Gauchos (7-17) allowed two runs in the top of the third and
were still in the game until the top of the fifth, when an error by
centerfielder Leslie Simien opened the floodgates to a three-run
inning. UCSB pitcher Loren Thornburg, who was pounded for eight
hits in four-plus innings of work, faced two batters in the top of
the fifth before Sylvia Santos came in for relief.
UCLA did a good job of producing runs, as the top two hitters,
junior centerfielder Amanda Freed and sophomore shortstop Natasha
Watley, each stole a pair of bases and scored a pair of runs.
Dale not only contributed on the mound, but also was the only
Bruin to drive in more than one run thanks to her two sacrifice
flies.