Feb. 6, 2013

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Friday, February 8
11:30 a.m. - Long Beach State vs. Wright State
Online Coverage: Gametracker

2 p.m. - Long Beach State vs. Texas A&M
Online Coverage: Gametracker

4:30 p.m. - Wright State at #19/#19 UCLA
Online Coverage: Gametracker | Live Updates | Audio

7 p.m. - #17/#17 Texas A&M at #19/#19 UCLA
Online Coverage: Gametracker | Live Updates | Audio


Saturday, February 9
9 a.m. - McNeese State vs. CSU Bakersfield
Online Coverage: Gametracker

11:30 a.m. - #17/#17 Texas A&M vs. CSU Bakersfield
Online Coverage: Gametracker

2 p.m. - #17/#17 Texas A&M vs. Wright State
Online Coverage: Gametracker

4:30 p.m. - McNeese State at #19/#19 UCLA
Online Coverage: Gametracker | Live Updates | Audio

7 p.m. - Wright State at #19/#19 UCLA
Online Coverage: Gametracker | Live Updates | Audio


Sunday, February 10
9 a.m. - Wright State vs. McNeese State
Online Coverage: Gametracker

11:30 a.m. - #17/#17 Texas A&M at #19/#19 UCLA
Online Coverage: Gametracker | Live Updates | Audio

2 p.m. - CSU Bakersfield vs. Long Beach State
Online Coverage: Gametracker

BRUINS OPEN SEASON AT HOME
The 19th-ranked Bruins open the 2013 season at Easton Stadium this weekend, hosting the Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament. Among the 12-game schedule will be five UCLA contests. The Bruins face Wright State (4:30 p.m.) and #17 Texas A&M (7 p.m.) on Friday, McNeese State (4:30 p.m.) and Wright State (7 p.m.) on Saturday and #17 Texas A&M (11:30 a.m.) on Sunday. Gametracker and free audio will be available at UCLABruins.com, as well as live updates at twitter.com/uclasoftball.

TICKETS AND PROMOTIONS
Tickets for this weekend's tournament are available on game day at the Easton Stadium Ticket Office, by calling 310-UCLA-WIN or online via Ticketmaster. Single-day passes are $8 for adults and $5 for children and all seating is general admission, first-come first-served.

This weekend, Little League players who wear their uniform receive free admission to each day's slate of games. It is also Strikeout Cancer Weekend. Following the tournament, game-worn pink items will be auctioned off online to help raise money for the fight against cancer.

ON DECK
The Bruins head to the Easton Desert Classic next weekend, with four of the five games being played in Henderson, Nev. at Stephanie Lynn Craig Park (SLC). On Friday, Feb. 15, UCLA faces Ohio at SLC Field 3 at 1:30 p.m., and then travels to UNLV's Eller Media Stadium for a 6 p.m. matchup against #23 Hawai'i. On Saturday, Feb. 16, the Bruins take on San Jose State (9 a.m.) and Seattle University (11:15 a.m.) at SLC Field 1, and on Sunday, Feb. 17, they play Louisiana-Monroe at 9 a.m. at SLC Field 3.

BRUINS IN THE POLLS
The Bruins are ranked 19th in both preseason national polls. UCLA received 216 points in the USA Today/NFCA rankings and 144 points in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll. The Bruins earned 28 points and were ranked seventh in the preseason Pac-12 Coaches poll.

BRUINS ON THE WEB
All five UCLA games this weekend will feature live audio at UCLABruins.com. Gametracker will also be available for all 12 games of the Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament, as will live Twitter updates at twitter.com/uclasoftball.

HONORING STACY WINSBERG
This weekend's tournament honors former UCLA softball player Stacy Winsberg. Winsberg was a four-year letterwinner with the Bruins (1982-85) and played for three national championship teams (`82, `84, `85). She was also a two-time ASA All-American and played internationally in the Tri-National Tournament and the Japan Cup in 1985. Winsberg lost her battle with cancer in December 2001, and beginning with the 2002 edition, this tournament has been named in her honor. A ceremony honoring Winsberg, which will include members of her family, will be held prior to the UCLA-McNeese State game on Saturday.

WINSBERG TOURNAMENT HISTORY
In the previous 11 years of the Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament, the Bruins hold a 46-5 record. UCLA went undefeated in the 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2011 and 2012 editions, while losing once in 2003, `05, `07, `08 and `09. Last season, the Bruins defeated Kentucky three times and Pacific once to improve their Winsberg Tournament winning streak to 17 games.

BATES AND LAROSA NAMED TO POY WATCH LIST
Senior B.B. Bates and sophomore Stephany LaRosa are two of 50 players named to the Watch List for the 2013 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, as announced by the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America on Feb. 1.

Now in its 12th year, the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award is designed to recognize outstanding achievements by female collegiate softball players across the country. Past recipients of the POY award include former Bruin Stacey Nuveman (2002).

While an athlete does not have to be on the Watch List to be considered for the Top 25 list, which will be announced on April 10, the eventual USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will come from the Top 25 finalists. The Top 10 finalists will be announced May 8 and the top three will be announced on May 22. On May 28 prior to the start of the 2013 Women's College World Series, the POY will be revealed.

SCOUTING THE WRIGHT STATE RAIDERS
Wright State, out of Dayton, Ohio, returns 12 letterwinners, seven starters and three pitchers from a 2012 team which went 23-31 and finished seventh in the Horizon League with a 10-13 mark. Leading the Raiders at the plate is junior outfielder Kristi Boreing, who hit .335 a year ago with two home runs and 24 runs batted in. Senior first baseman/outfielder Colleen Schneider tied for the team lead with three homers to go with a .292 average and 19 RBI. In the circle, junior Krystian DeWitt started 40 of Wright State's 54 games in 2012 and posted a 3.16 earned run average, a 16-26 record and 210 strikeouts in 263 2/3 innings. Lynn Curylo is in her third year at Wright State and has a record of 49-60. The Bruins and the Raiders have met once before on Feb. 18, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nev., as UCLA posted a 12-2 victory in five innings.

SCOUTING THE TEXAS A&M AGGIES
Texas A&M reached the NCAA Tournament last season, going 2-2 in Regionals, as well as 41-18 overall and 16-8 (4th) in the Big 12. The Aggies return 14 letterwinners, six starters and three pitchers from last year's team. Senior pitcher/infielder Mel Dumezich can do it both in the circle and at the plate. She started 40 of 59 games a year ago and went 28-13 with a 2.01 earned run average and 307 strikeouts in 275 innings. At the plate, the senior hit .306 with a team-leading 20 home runs and 47 runs batted in. Junior infielder/outfielder Emily Albus was the 2012 team leader in average (.386) and stolen bases (15), while junior catcher/first baseman Nicole Morgan hit .299 with nine homers and 23 RBI. Jo Evans is in her 17th season in College Station and has a record of 630-304-2, as well as a 943-514-2 mark in 27 years of coaching. The Bruins and the Aggies have a storied history, which features seven matchups in the NCAA Tournament, with UCLA holding a 9-8 series advantage. The two teams haven't met since Feb. 10, 2007 in Tempe, Ariz. when Texas A&M posted a 5-4 victory. That loss snapped a three-game series winning streak for UCLA, which last defeated the Aggies on Feb. 25, 2006 in Cathedral City, Calif. (5-0). The teams have met three times at Easton Stadium, with Texas A&M winning each matchup (March 15, 1986 - 1-0 in 10 innings and March 10, 1980 doubleheader - 4-2 in 13 innings and 1-0).

SCOUTING THE MCNEESE STATE COWGIRLS
McNeese State, out of Lake Charles, La., returns 11 letterwinners, seven starters and two pitchers from last year's squad which went 34-21 and finished third in the Southland Conference with a 12-8 mark. The Cowgirls' top returning hitter is junior outfielder Alanna DiVittorio, who batted .321 a year ago with seven home runs, 27 runs batted in and 15 stolen bases. Sophomore catcher/first baseman Ashley Modzelewski hit .269 with five homers and 28 RBI, while senior outfielder Marissa Koetting batted .261 with seven homers and 29 RBI. In the circle, senior Meagan Bond posted a 16-8 record and a 3.36 earned run average with 144 strikeouts in 135 1/3 innings. Mike Smith is in his second season at McNeese State and has an overall coaching record of 670-194 in 14 years as a skipper. Saturday's matchup will be the first between the Bruins and the Cowgirls.

2013 SEASON PREVIEW
An outstanding mix of veteran and young talent looks to lead the Bruins back to the Women's College World Series in 2013. Following a 36-20 record last season, UCLA returns 14 letterwinners this year and brings in a solid group of seven newcomers to fill out the roster.

In the circle, the Bruins' staff will be anchored by junior Jessica Hall, sophomores Ally Carda and Courtney Rivera and freshman Paige McDuffee. Hall was the team leader in wins (19-14) and strikeouts (213) in 2012, posting a 3.28 earned run average in 213 2/3 innings. She earned All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention accolades, appearing in 47 games, the third most in one season in UCLA history and posting 16 complete games and four solo shutouts. When she wasn't starting, Hall was also solid in relief, posting four saves, which tied for the second most in one season at UCLA. Her six career saves rank her third all time in UCLA history. Hall should also see some more time at the plate this season (just five hits in 12 at-bats in 2012) after recording five home runs as a freshman.

Carda was named Second Team NFCA All-West Region and All-Pac-12 Freshman for her play not only in the circle, but also at the plate. Toeing the rubber, she went 13-5 with a 3.38 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 120 innings. Carda had six complete games and was a part of six shutouts. With the bat, she hit .290 with four home runs and 25 runs batted in, producing seven multiple-hit games and eight multi-RBI contests.

Rivera did not appear in a game a year ago, but is working her way back after suffering injuries throughout the last year and a half as a Bruin. McDuffee also has the capability of providing an impact in the circle and at the plate. The 2010-11 Gatorade National Softball Player of the Year at The Woodlands High School in The Woodlands, Texas, she went 37-1 as a junior with a 0.97 ERA, while also batting .415 with 42 RBI. She did not pitch as a senior after coming off elbow surgery, but did hit .388 with two homers and 17 RBI in 59 plate appearances.

Catching the Bruin hurlers will be the duo of junior Alyssa Tiumalu and freshman Brittany Moeai. Tiumalu burst onto the college scene with a .302 average, nine homers and 24 RBI as a freshman in 2011, but tore her ACL during the Regional round of the NCAA Tournament. After also undergoing shoulder surgery that Winter, Tiumalu did not return to the lineup last year until the start of Pac-12 play and only mustered a .169 average and two homers. However, with a healthy Fall and preseason under her belt, Tiumalu should return to the offensive force she was as a freshman to compliment her outstanding game-calling behind the plate.

Moeai, out of Paramount, Calif. and Carson High School, hit .490 with four homers, 45 RBI, 38 runs and seven doubles in her senior campaign. She was named First Team All-Marine League, All-City and Daily Breeze All-Area all four seasons, helping the Colts to a CIF Los Angeles City Section Championship in 2011.

On the infield, the reigning Pac-12 Freshman of the Year will find a new spot on the left side of the diamond. After starting all 56 games at third base a year ago, sophomore Stephany LaRosa shifts to her left and will begin the 2013 campaign as the starting shortstop. The honors are too long to list from LaRosa's freshman season, as she was named NFCA First Team All-American and All-Region, as well as All-Pac-12 First Team, after leading the Bruins with a .436 batting average, 17 home runs, 61 runs batted in, 79 hits, an .807 slugging, 25 multiple-hit games and 16 multi-RBI contests.

Taking over LaRosa's spot at the hot corner will be freshman Mysha Sataraka. The Honolulu native out of athletic tradition rich Punahou School, Sataraka hit .650 as a senior with eight home runs, 25 RBI, 10 steals, 29 runs scored and seven doubles. She was named Hawai'i Position Player of the Year as a senior, also earning All-State and All-League First Team honors each season. While not on the diamond, Sataraka also played four years on the basketball squad.

Another newcomer will start off the year at second base. Sophomore Gracie Goulder, a transfer from the University of Georgia, started all 62 games in her freshman campaign in Athens. She hit .273 with five homers and 21 RBI and will prove her versatility after starting 57 games at third and five at shortstop a year ago.

The incumbent second baseman from last season is junior Talee Snow, who will be sidelined to start the year with a shoulder injury. Showing the most improvement of anyone from 2011 to 2012, Snow raised her batting average 74 points from .239 to .313 and also hit her first two collegiate homers to go with 19 RBI, adding nine doubles and 10 multiple-hit games. Adding to the depth at second base will be sophomores Sam Duran and Kaelin Sprawls. Duran appeared in 47 games a year ago, primarily as a pinch-runner, and scored 22 runs, while Sprawls entered 15 contests as a pinch-runner and crossed home plate four times.

A myriad of players may find themselves at first based on the situation. Any of the three pitchers, Carda, Hall or McDuffee, can play the position, as can Moeai and fellow freshman Britney Rodriguez. An All-Sierra League honoree for four years at South Hills High School in West Covina, Calif., Rodriguez hit .432 as a senior with eight home runs, 33 RBI, 23 runs and nine doubles, helping lead the Huskies to back-to-back CIF title game appearances.

A pair of seniors anchor the outfield, while a freshman will be positioned in center field. Senior B.B. Bates, an All-Pac-12 First Team and Second Team NFCA All-West Region selection a year ago, was second on the team with 48 runs batted in, third with 14 home runs and fourth with a .360 batting average in 2012. Leading the team with nine game-winning RBI, she was one of five Bruins to start all 56 games and did not commit an error in 51 chances between left and right field.

Another senior, Devon Lindvall, has started at least one game at all three outfield positions over her previous three seasons. Of her 70 starts, 29 have come in left field, 31 in center and one in right. Battling injuries throughout last year, she appeared in 32 games a year ago and had three hits in eight at-bats. Sprawls, as well as sophomore Tara Mueller may also see time in right field. Mueller appeared as a pinch-runner in 26 games last year and scored a dozen runs.

Freshman Allexis Bennett (Corona, Calif.) will begin the year as the starting center fielder, providing solid speed at the position and at the plate. A two-sport athlete at Troy High School, Bennett earned All-Freeway League honors every season and hit .588 as a senior with 20 runs batted in, 46 stolen bases and 36 runs scored.