UCLA Softball: The Hottest Team In Westwood

Aug 31, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of the UCLA campus before the football game against the Nevada Wolf Pack. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The UCLA Bruin Softball team. Know it well college teams across the nation, for it is the sound of your doom. The hottest team in Westwood, maybe even the nation, is 34-4 overall and boast a 9-3 conference record. The Bruins are the #3 team in the nation, after dropping from being #1 most of the season, but really it is only a ranking. We all know who the top team in the country is.

After a mild slip up over the weekend, the Bruins still managed to end their series on a win, after UCLA had lost twice in a row for the first time this season against the best team in the conference, and #5 in the country, Oregon. After losing 9-7 and 12-4, the Bruins bounced back for a 6-1 win on Sunday. If there is one thing this team is, it’s that they are tough and two losses are not going to deter them.

The Bruins had started 17-0 before their first loss to a nationally ranked team in Michigan. Lead by head coach Kelly Inouye-Perez, who is in her eighth year as the Bruin Commander, UCLA is looking to improve off of a fifth place conference finish from last year. So far, it’s looking good. They are second in the conference ONLY after this weekend. Right now, they are THE team to beat.

The Hitting Game

The Bruins have decent numbers. Okay, above decent. They are batting .321 (6th out of 9 teams) as a unit, but individually, the Bruins have three of the top 25 batters (minimum 40 at bats) in the conference. Ally Carda (.385), Stephany LaRosa (.375) and Delaney Spaulding (.366) are producing some dangerous offense for the Bruins and that is just the start.

As a team, UCLA is 3rd in conference in slugging percentage (.544), 2nd for on base percentage (.446) and 3rd in home runs (46). That’s all good, but it is nothing compared to their pitching. Holy moly, can they pitch.

The Big Guns

The Bruins are, well… awesome. Let us run down some numbers, shall we?

Category: Conference rank/stat

Earned Run Avg: 1st/1.33

Opposing Batting Avg: 1st/.191

Batters Struck Out: 3rd/265

Saves: 1st/4

Earned Runs allowed: 1st/47

Home Runs Allowed: 1st/13

The list goes on.

The two women that are responsible for the majority of this domination are Jessica Hall and Ally Carda. Yup, that Ally Carda.

Hall has a season record of 11-2, a 1.54 ERA and an opposing batting average of .189. Carda sports a 20-2 record, 1.23 ERA and an opposing batting average of .190. So I think it is safe to say that these women are hitting superhero status right about now. These are insane numbers that need to be acknowledged. This is a scary UCLA team who is showing no signs of slowing down.

That is good news because there is plenty of softball left and if there ever was a time to follow this women’s team, it is now!

The Bruins look to continue their dominance Thursday as they head to Cal State Fullerton before they come home to the comforting confines of Easton Stadium to face Cal State Northridge next Tuesday. The following weekend, UCLA continues with conference play as they have a three-game set scheduled with Oregon State.

For ticket information, vist UCLA Softball Tickets.

Go Bruins.

Mike W.R.

Twitter: @TheBigDisco