The Softball Ball Team; #15 in both polls, defeated a very good #12 U-L Lafayette today in the NFCA Tourney in Clearwater Florida; 3-1 The weather today is mostly sunny and 82F.
Ashley Lane delivered the game winning hit by going long. She knocked in Caitlyn Blanchard, who was on base due to a HBP. Amy Knapp drove in the 3rd run with a line drive to RF and driving in Sierra Lawerence who reached base on an error. We had only 3 hits total but that was enough for the W.
Sara was the winning pitcher by going the distance. She gave up 1 unearned run on 4 hits. She walked 1 and struck out 3.
We took advantage of 2 Ragin-Cajuns errors. It is nice to see the ladies getting key hits and playing good defense. Sara has been lights out thus far this year.
Coach Hutch is still juggling the line up. She has Lauren and Ashley hitting in the 7 and 8 slots. She also has Caitlyn playing 1B and Nicole playing RF. These are interesting moves by Coach. It seems to be paying dividends.
This week's poll has us at #15 for both USA Today and ESPN. The only real difference between the two polls is USA Today has Alabama #1 whereas the ESPN has Oklahoma #1.
2nd GAME TODAY
The team scored 4 runs in the top of the 7th for a 7-4 lead then Illinois State managed to work the bases loaded in the bottom of the 7th and they scored 3 runs to tie the game. It is now in the 8th Inning.
Caitlyn Blanchard drove in 2 runs in the top of the 7th inning in a 4-run inning. She connected on the first pitch while bases were loaded. We led most of the day but Illinois St scored 2 in the bottom of the 6th to take the lead before the 7 inning free-for-all.
Sara is currently 3 for 4 with a run scored and 2 RBIs to help her cause. Caitlyn is going 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs. Ashley Lane is 4 for 4. Nicole is 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. Sierra Lawerence is 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. Kelsey Susalla is 1 for 4 with an RBI and a Run scored.
UM pulls out the win in the 10th innings on a homer by Sierra Romero with 1 on, 11-9.
That's exactly the kind of quality win it's great to see the team picking up in the non-conf schedule. People just expect us to win a lot in the Big Ten, since we're usually the only (or one of two or three at most) ranked team, so getting these wins early is the best way to prove ourselves. It's especially great to see Sara doing so well, although I certainly hope that Haylie gets back in the circle before too much longer. It looks like, once that happens, we'll be back to having a truly great one-two punch at the pitcher position.
Now with 100% less South Bend, 100% more Washington DC.