UCLA’s Brundage Is Adept at Numbers Game

Others keep track of the numbers, so Jennifer Brundage doesn’t. That’s good because Brundage, a UCLA softball star, probably wouldn’t.

And someone definitely should because Brundage’s statistics are worth remembering and praising.

Understand, she is quite capable of handling figures. Brundage is as good in the classroom as on the diamond.

It’s just that Brundage is busier than most, and would rather channel her energy toward a higher purpose. Such as winning games.

“I don’t want to focus on that stuff. I don’t want to take anything away from the team,” said Brundage, who attended Irvine High.

“It’s all just part of the game anyway. You can acknowledge it, but you just have to go on.”

Yet, Brundage isn’t one to stop and reflect. Not even momentarily, although she is entitled.

Brundage, who plays third, was selected an athletic and academic All-American last season as a junior. Her defense is at times sensational, but Brundage does her best work on offense.

Her averages are phenomenal. Brundage is hitting .507 and has a slugging percentage of .915.

You read it correctly-- .915 . Brundage has an on-base percentage of .594. That means Brundage reaches base almost six of every 10 at-bats.

She leads the Bruins with 13 home runs--a UCLA single-season record. Brundage also leads the team with 54 runs batted in and 13 doubles. She has a nine-game multiple-hit streak.

As if that wasn’t enough, Brundage has broken or is close to tying many all-time school records. But tell it to anyone except Brundage.

“I feel good about it, but I can’t allow anything to distract me,” Brundage said. “I’d rather win than break records.”

Brundage excels in that area too. Especially when she is required to provide the difference.

“For the first time in her career, I think she is actually comfortable in the role of being the leader,” UCLA co-Coach Sue Enquist said. “She’s really taken the responsibility and run with is this year.

“She always had the talent, but I wasn’t sure if she was emotionally ready to be the one to carry the team. As each week passes, she gets better and better at it.”

Her consistency and intensity are big pluses for perennial power UCLA (41-6, 23-4 in the Pac 10). The Bruins are ranked second nationally, but Brundage believes they can, and must, do better.

“We haven’t won as much as should lately,” said Brundage, 21. “It’s been kind of bittersweet (to set records) when we’re not having the type of season we’re used to. But we’ll break out of it.”

Six losses? A tough season?

Such are expectations when you play softball at UCLA. Brundage knew about the standards, which was among her main reasons to attend college in Westwood.

She learned what success required at Irvine, becoming a member of The Times’ all-county team. Brundage, though, wasn’t cocky enough to predict the success she has enjoyed at UCLA.

“I didn’t expect this, but it was a goal,” she said. “Coming out of high school, there was no way I thought I would be an All-American. I just expected to have fun.”

She has. So much so that Brundage has no doubts about her plans after graduation.

“I want to be a college softball coach,” she said. “The sport is something I enjoy so much . . . I love it. I’ve learned a lot and I feel I have a lot to teach.”

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Tournament time: Nevada teammates Chris Briones and Justin Drizos hope to celebrate after the Big West Conference baseball title game Sunday.

The former county standouts have helped make Nevada one of the conference’s best teams. The Wolf Pack (34-16, 12-9 in the Big West) finished third and opens the tournament against Long Beach State at 7:05 Friday night.

Briones is a senior catcher. He began his college career at Chapman after graduating from Brea Olinda High.

He transferred from Chapman to Miami and, finally, to Nevada. He is among the Big West leaders in many categories, and finished the regular season batting .356 with 11 home runs, 42 runs and 58 RBIs.

Drizos, a senior infielder, was a standout at Woodbridge High and played at Saddleback before arriving at Nevada. Drizos hit .331 with 11 home runs, 51 runs and 54 RBIs.

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Making her mark: Patty Godwin continues to have an excellent freshman season for the Lehigh softball team.

Godwin, a pitcher and designated hitter, is performing as well as she did at Mater Dei. She is 7-2 with a 2.02 earned-run average. Godwin is batting .398 with 13 RBIs.