Kelli Bruce

Position:
C
Height:
5-5
Class:
Freshman
High School:
El Toro HS

Set all-time Lady Cajun record with 24 doubles in a season in 1998

Batted .444 at 1996 College World Series

What Girouard says: "Obviously she is the leader behind the plate. She has been there forthree years and she needs to go out with a bang. She needs to teach these freshman pitchers about what it means to be at this level and how to play for a national championship."

1998: Played in 50 games during junior campaign and had best offensive season of career ...Her 24 doubles broke former Lady Cajun standout Kathy Morton's record for two-baggers in a season ... Doubles total was second in nation ... Set doubles record at USL April 23 against Tennessee ... Ended year with career-best.325 batting average and 39 RBIS ... Was second on team in RBIs and stolen bases (7) and slugging percentage (.539) ... Named Louisiana Classics Tournament MVP in leading Lady Cajuns to tournament title ... Went 5-for-9 with two doubles and three RBIs ... One-third of RBIs came with two outs ... Had 13 multi-hit games, including three-hit games on three occasions ... Was selected to All-Louisiana squad for third consecutive year ... Best offensive day came April 16 at McNeese State, going 4-for-4 with two home runs, five RBIS and three runs scored ... Enjoyed career-best six-game hitting streak from Feb. 20 through March 4 and hit.556 during that stretch.

1997: Selected to the All-Louisiana squad for the second consecutive season ... Hit .276 with six doubles, seven home runs, and 28 RBI ... Second on team with 11 stolen bases ... Had .992 fielding percentage with 313 putouts and 45 assists ... Had IO multi-hit games ... Went 2-for-2 ith three RBIs against Troy St. on April 18 ... Went 2-for-3 with three RBIs against Nebraska on March 26.

1996: Finished with a .257 batting average in her first year as Lady Cajun ....Collected 36 hits in the 50 games she played ... Was second on the team with two triples and also hit two doubles and two home runs for the Lady Cajuns... Gunned down six of 13 base runners on the year from behind the plate while stealing 10 bases of her own ... Had 22 RBIS and had a.350 slugging percentage...Enjoyed a tremendous World Series showing, finishing second on the squad with a .444 batting average with four hits and two RBIS ... Hit first career homer against Sam Houston State on March 15, a three-run shot in the fifth inning that ended the contest on the mercy rule ... In four-game stretch against Sam Houston State and Nicholls State, went 8-for-12 (.667) with seven RBIS ... Had three RBIs against Sam Houston State (March 15)... Collected six hits and five RBIs at the 10th Annual Louisiana Classics, being named to the All-Tournament team.

High School: Graduate of El Toro High where she was named first team All-League for three years and first team All-County and All-CIF in 1993 ... Named Best Offensive Player and Sophomore Female Athlete of the Year in 1993 as well ... Helped lead the O.C. Batbusters to a 52-1 record in Summer 1994 ... Was a four-year honor student ... Also an All-League selection in basketball.

Personal: Born Dec. 27, 1976 in El Toro, California ... Parents are Don and Jayne Bruce ... Has one sister, Sara, and one brother, Tim ... Also considered University of California, Fresno State, Cal State Fullerton, Ohio State and University of the Pacific before choosing USL.

F.Y.I. ABOUT KELLI BRUCE

Best advice anyone ever gave me: When Mom and Dad said play your hardest and we'll love you no matter what. Never again will I: Speed past Coach Girouard just in time to get pulled over and have her pass me up on the side of the road.The worst thing about college: The fat I've gained from eating all this awesome food. Greatest personal achievement: None, they are all God's.

Team