The Observer, April 28, 2006
Volume XXXVIII, Issue 26
Late April marks perhaps the toughest part of the softball schedule. Finals are looming. Physical and mental fatigue starts se
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Late April marks perhaps the toughest part of the softball schedule. Finals are looming. Physical and mental fatigue starts setting in. Lindsey Royer is on the mound.
The latter reason was the main source of difficulty for the Lady Spartans in their doubleheader loss against Mount Union on Monday. Royer threw a one-hit shutout in the Purple Raiders' 8-0 victory in the first game. Courtney Geib singled in the second inning for Case's only hit, and Carrie Casden walked in the fourth for the Spartans' only other baserunner of the game.
The Mount Union offense attacked Case pitcher Amanda Bell early in the game. In the first inning, Royer did more damage at-bat, driving in two runs with a single through the right side. The next inning, Crystal Thomas had a two-out double with the bases loaded, scoring two runs. Erin Duignan then had an RBI single to give Mount Union a commanding 5-0 lead after two innings. With the early lead and dominant pitching of Royer, Mount Union cruised to an 8-0 victory in five innings.
Coach Jennie Amodio praised Royer's performance on the mound, though she also believed that her team did not play with the intensity needed to beat a good pitcher like Royer.
"She was one of the best we've seen this year," Amodio said. "She had pretty good speed, but the most important thing in her favor was her control and ability to put the ball wherever she wanted. However, we came out flat and weren't ready to play either."
The second game was closer but still did not produce a favorable result for the Spartans as they lost, 4-1. Case scored its lone run in the third when Lauren Seeds singled and Amber Hammell scored on an ensuing throwing error. As a team, Case was limited to four hits by Mount Union pitcher Ashley Ault.
First baseman Katie Olive put Mount Union in the lead with a two-run homer off Spartan pitcher Ruth Sagartz in the fourth inning. The Purple Raiders added two more runs, thanks in part to a passed ball and a dropped pop-up, in the fifth inning.
Mount Union was considered one of the best teams on Case's schedule, and the Purple Raiders justified that distinction. The two wins improved their record to 28-8, while Case's fell to 16-22-1.
Looking ahead, Amodio will try to keep her team focused on winning during this tough stretch of the season.
"[Staying focused] is not an easy thing to do this time of the year," she said. "You have to be able to come back and play hard even though you've got a full plate. It's all about mental toughness."
The women will look to bounce back tomorrow when they host Thomas More for a home doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. The team won't be able to catch its breath after that twinbill, as they travel to Hiram for a Sunday doubleheader before returning home to finish the season against Oberlin. Thomas More, with a 22-12-1 record as of press time, poses a formidable challenge for the Spartans. However, with Hiram and Oberlin struggling for much of the season, Case will have a good opportunity to finish the season on a winning note.
