The Observer, April 6, 2007
Volume XXXIX, Issue 23
Softball splits six, looks to postseason push
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The Case softball team went 3-3 last week, sweeping Hiram College in a doubleheader last Wednesday, March 28, before being swept by Mount Union in a doubleheader the following day. The Spartans closed the week splitting a doubleheader against Denison on Saturday.
Record wise, the string of victories and losses left the Spartans in the same position they had been in prior to entering the week: .500. However, from an experience standpoint, they were able to win several close games, which should benefit them in the final three and a half weeks of their season.
When asked about the Spartans' play to date, coach Jennie Amodio said, "I'm not disappointed with where we are at right now. Based on how we've played up to now, I think our record could be a little better, and I am confident that we will win more games than we lose going forward."
In their outing this past Saturday against Denison, the Spartans demonstrated that they could score runs in a hurry. In the first game of the doubleheader, the team found itself down 4-1 going into the bottom of the sixth inning. They then proceeded to score six runs that inning, connecting on six straight hits – four singles and two doubles – to give them a 7-4 victory. Junior Lauren Seeds and sophomore Ruth Sagartz both had two RBI in the sixth, and junior pitcher Amanda Bell sealed the game in the seventh, getting three straight outs to earn her fifth win of the season.
In the second half of the doubleheader, the Spartans looked as if they were still recovering from the earlier emotional comeback. The Big Red of Denison jumped out to an early 8-0 lead and despite the best efforts of the Spartans, including Carrie Casden's triple in the third inning, they were unable to come back from such a significant deficit, losing 9-7.
Casden, though, has provided the Spartans with very consistent play this season. The first baseman is first on the team with a .508 batting average and is second in RBI through 20 games. "She has been a huge player for us this season," said Amodio. "Even if she's not getting hits, she still manages to get on base and influence the game."
Other key players for Case include Lauren Seeds, Amanda Bell, and freshman Chelsea Poelking, who, had she not been injured for the first part of the season, would have been a leading contender for the UAA Rookie of the Year award.
"Thanks to some great leadership, the team is really coming together this year," Amodio added. "We are much better than we were last year and we are ready to really dig in and focus on our remaining games this season."
With no automatic bid to the NCAA tournament because there are only five teams that compete in conference play, the regional games coming up for the Spartans are extremely important if they want to keep any hopes alive for postseason play. Barring a rain or snow out, they will continue their bid on Monday, April 9 when they travel south to play Otterbein College.
