The Observer, April 8, 2005
Volume XXXVII, Issue 24
Spartans rebound to bring home wins after losing streak
Following their return from Florida, the Lady Spartans had three consecutive double-headers cancelled before finally playing at Bluffton University on March 28. Unfortunately for Case, they lost a very close game 2-1 in extra innings, which seemed to demoralize the team and resulted in a 10-1 defeat in the next game.
Freshman pitcher Amanda Bell had an outstanding performance for the Spartans in the first game, lasting 7 2/3 innings and giving up 2 runs, but only one was earned. She also struck out seven batters and had two hits in her appearances at the plate.
Two days later, the Spartans traveled to Otterbein, but again finished 0-2. Otterbein's pitchers were the story of the first game as they limited Case to five hits and a 5-0 shutout. The second game was much closer as the Otters squeaked past 2-1. Unlike the earlier game, Case scored first as junior Kristin Courtney singled in senior Rachel Moore from third base. Senior pitcher Jackie Rutherford tossed a great game, yielding only two earned runs on six hits.
Then the team visited Calvin College and Hope College in Michigan for an important weekend tournament. They managed to escape the snowy Cleveland weather and completed four games on the trip. On Friday, April 1, the Spartans played Calvin and then Wisconsin-River Falls. Both games were very close, but the Spartans continued their losing skid, losing 2-0 to Calvin and 3-1 to WRF in extra innings. The good news for the Spartans was that Bell and Rutherford both had excellent outings again.
The team continued its travels to Holland, Mich. to play Hope College and to have a rematch with WRF. After a string of close, disappointing losses, the Spartans needed a spark. Hope pitcher Kelsey Guisbert had other ideas, though, and threw a one-hitter in an 8-0 victory.
In spite of the taxing defeats, Case came alive with thoughts of revenge for the rematch against WRF. Four freshmen led the way with their bats and Rutherford pitched a gem, allowing only one earned run in 4 1/3 innings for the 4-3 victory. Rachelle Gunselman, Lauren Seeds, Elisha Bierman, and Adriane Lewandowski each had two hits. It was a game that the team desperately wanted to win.
"I think that the second time around against River Falls we just tried to put the fun back in the game…we didn't worry about anything individual," Bierman said.
"We were determined to bring home a win and all of our hard work finally paid off," Lewandowski added. "We fought back after a few tough losses and kept our heads in the game."
Case will continue playing away from home at Thiel College tomorrow and Allegheny College Sunday, and then closer to home at Ursuline College Tuesday. Seeds predicted better results for the second half of the season.
"We won our second game against River Falls because we played as a team and every single teammate put her heart into that win," Lewandowski said. "We expect that game to be a starting point for a more successful half of the season."
