The Observer, April 22, 2005
Volume XXXVII, Issue 26
Skid comes to halt for softball team with a home win
Unfortunately for Case, the first home games in more than a season did not result in much of an advantage as they lost 9 of 10 in the first stretch of the home stand. As they wrap up the season, the Spartans are playing a ton of softball. This week, they played double-headers on four consecutive days, and they will play four double-headers in five days to finish.
In spite of dropping both games to Bethany College on Tuesday, the 0-2 record does not reflect the performance of the team. Bethany's victories were their 11th and 12th in a row, leaving them 22-9 for the season. In both games, Case was led by outstanding pitching performances. In game one, freshman Amanda Bell threw seven innings, yielding zero earned runs, although the defense committed three errors which resulted in the 4-0 defeat. In game two, senior Jackie Rutherford gave up only two runs in the game, but the offense failed to produce. Freshman catcher Elisha Bierman went three for six in the two games to power the team, but she received little help as the Spartans lost 2-1.
Over the weekend, Case hosted Washington and Jefferson College on Saturday and Denison University on Sunday. The Presidents came prepared and handed Case two losses, 11-3 and 6-2. Freshman centerfielder Lauren Seeds went two for five on the day with two runs scored, and sophomore shortstop Leah Shook went two for six with two RBI.
The next day, the Spartans played competitively against the Big Red from Denison but still came up short. The first game, a 5-3 defeat, took extra innings to decide. Bell pitched all eight, giving up only three earned runs. Seeds again hit well, going two for two, and sophomore first baseman Carrie Casden went one for two with two walks. In the second game, Rutherford threw a gem – seven innings, no earned runs – but ended up with a 3-0 loss thanks to unearned runs and a lack of hitting. Seeds added a double in the second game to go one for three.
The Spartans snapped a ten-game losing streak on Monday as they defeated Lake Erie College 3-2 in game one of the doubleheader. Bell pitched seven innings and gave up one earned run for the victory. She had run support as she and her teammates got the job done at the plate. She went one for two at the plate with one RBI and Bierman went one for two with two RBI. Rutherford allowed only one earned run in seven innings of work in game two, but three Case errors led to a five-run sixth inning for Lake Erie. Shook went three for four from the plate with three RBI as Case out-hit their opponent 11-7. Bell also went two for three with two runs scored.
Case enters the last stretch of the season with a record of 7-31 after the losses against Bethany. They will take to the home field again Saturday at 1 p.m. against Thomas More College and Monday at 3:30 when they face College of Wooster. They also play at Notre Dame College Sunday at 1 p.m.
