TU Softball Falls Short at Huntington
April 16, 2009
Taylor softball engaged in yet another conference battle last Thursday, with Huntington University taking two one-run contests, 1-0 and 6-5.
The first was a true pitcher's duel as only 9 hits were struck in the game combined, in a 1-0 eight inning game.
Senior Jill Tomaszewski continued to pitch well, shutting down the opponents bats while locked in a pitching duel. TU lost in the 8th inning off of a full-swing dinker that looked more like a bunt and a double on the ground up the middle. The Lady Trojan defense was stellar, turning in two double-plays.
The second game flipped the script as the 6-5 game saw 26 hits, Taylor's offense could not get over the hump and fell by one run yet again. The trend of close games and intense contents continues as the streak runs to 5 straight losses for the Trojans all by either 1 run or an extra innings contest.
The second game there were more hits on both sides. Jess Fankhauser started on the mound and went into the 4th inning when Kristen Bauer took over, allowing only six hits in four innings. Huntington's offense scored three runs off both pitchers. Two runs in the top of the 6th inning put Huntington up for good, as Bauer got the loss.
Again the Taylor offense showed signs of life, but could not get enough to get the W. Eight Trojan batters recorded a hit, with Laurie Shumaker, Lindsey Arnold, and Alyssa Brodbeck getting multiple hits. Shumaker ended up the day scoring two runs.
Another TU rally was cut short after scoring once in the bottom of the sixth, drawing them within one. The Foresters brought back their ace Ward to try to close the game. Tomaszewski doubled in the bottom of the 7th with two outs and advanced to third on a wild pitch, but was stranded 60 feet away as Ward closed out the game.
Coach Lockridge was pleased with the showing, "It was a much better day for us altogether, because we stayed focused for all 15 innings, something we have needed. We will succeed if we can get our bats to remember their skill from the beginning of the season, and get back to scoring more runs."
With the two losses Taylor moves to 13-19 on the year, with a 3-9 record in conference. Each contest is fiercely competitive and with two more series left in the conference season, TU has a chance to gain momentum going into the conference tournament. Taylor next faces off against Marian College (#RV 31-7, 12-2) at Marian on Wednesday April 22nd. TU then makes up a rained-out game with IWU on Thursday the 23rd before senior day on Saturday.