Feb. 28, 2006
Santa Clara, Calif. - The Santa Clara softball team is no stranger to tough competition and this weekend, they will get another heavy dose of it when they travel down to Los Angeles, Calif. to participate in the Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament at Easton Stadium, on the campus of No. 3 UCLA. On Friday, Santa Clara matches up with South Bay rival San Jose State at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.; on Saturday will be Cal Poly at 3 and 5:30 p.m.; and No. 3 UCLA awaits on Sunday at 3 and 5:30 p.m.
"This weekend will be a good test for our team. We need to beat squads like San Jose and Cal Poly. If we play with intensity then we should be able to compete with UCLA as well," said head coach Steve Rianda.
Cal Poly (4-11) ended last weekend's Palm Springs Classic on a high note, taking down No. 25 Fresno State in a dramatic 9-4 victory. Behind 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth, the Mustangs scored three runs to tie up the ballgame and then went on an offensive spree in the sixth after six runners crossed the home plate. Lisa Modglin has been on fire for Cal Poly, as she is leading the team in batting average (.407), hits (22), RBI (15), and homeruns (4). Kelly Comstock has also been dangerous at the plate, batting .365 and belting 19 hits in 2006. Hurler Robyn Kontra has struck out 22 batters and has a team-low ERA of 3.52 on the year. Jenny Condon is in her second year as the head coach and has compiled an overall mark of 39-27.
"Cal Poly has had a difficult start but they are a very strong team. We need to beat them in both games and get our record back up to where we need to be," said Rianda.
San Jose State (6-6) finished last weekend with a 3-2 mark at the University of Texas-El Paso Invitational, defeating Northern Colorado 9-2 in its final game. Courtney Lewis is the Spartans top offensive threat, batting .375 after banging out 15 hits on the season, four of them doubles. Kristy Ballinger and Jessica Guillen follow closely behind with 12 and 11 hits, respectively and there are three players with 10 hits apiece in 2006. Nicole Luna-Pickens is the top hurler on the San Jose State squad, sporting a 3-1 mark thus far in the year, though Kelly Harrison has a team-leading 23 strikeouts. Dee Dee Enabenter-Omidiji is in her sixth season as the head coach of the softball program and has tallied a career mark of 129-180 while with the Spartans.
San Jose is coming off a good season last year and played well this weekend in Texas. They will be a good match for us this year," said Rianda.
No. 3 UCLA (13-1) enters this weekend with only one loss to its name, a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Long Beach State, and has done so behind the powerful pitching of Anjelica Seldon, who already has 106 strikeouts this year. With Seldon in the circle, the Bruins went 5-0 at the Palm Springs Classic last weekend, defeating three-ranked opponents along the way. Emily Zaplatosch leads a potent and dangerous offense, with 16 hits on a .348 clip and Lisa Dodd has four homeruns already to her credit. Head coach Sue Enquist is in her 27th year at the helm of the Bruin softball program and has accumulated a career record of 850-167-1.
"UCLA is a very tough to face, but one we are all excited to play. I know the girls are ready to give them a battle and come out with a victory," said Rianda.
