Brady, a former high school shortstop who moved

 Brady, a former high school shortstop who moved

 to center field at UCLA, transitioned back to the infield as an option after Perez’s departure, along with freshman Megan Grant and redshirt junior Seneca Curo.

While Brady was working at both center field and shortstop leading up to the season opener, returning to the infield was an exciting homecoming, although it was a bumpy return at first.

“It is such a big transition,” said Brady, who led the Bruins with 14 postseason hits last year. “I’ve kind of had to relearn the things that were just in my DNA five years ago, but it’s definitely like coming back to me very, very slowly but surely.”

Beyond Perez's iron-woman reliability, consistent hitting and steady fielding, the Bruins miss the five-year starter's leadership, pitcher Megan Faraimo said. The reigning Pac-12 pitcher of the year says she feels a responsibility to fill the critical void.