Belles struggle at bat, fall to Comets in MIAA openers
By KAREN SCHAFF
Sports Writer
The Saint Mary's softball team played its first conference games last night against Olivet College and lost both games, 6-1 and 5-0.
Sophomore Kristin Martin pitched the first game and junior Anne Senger pitched the second.
The Belles current record is now 9-6 overall and 0-2 in the MIAA.
Olivet finished fourth in the MIAA last season, one place above Saint Mary's. It was the Comets' first conference game this season as well, although they have an 11-5-1 record overall.
Jessica Davenport, Olivet's pitcher in the first game, pitched faster than the Belles' offense is used to.
The speed of Davenport, the MIAA's 1999 most valuable player, threw off Saint Mary's hitting.
"We need to get our timing down. We just weren't hitting,"sophomore Katy Ray said.
The Belles came away with one hit from freshman right fielder Katie Murphy in the first inning of the first game. After hitting a double, Murphy attempted to steal third and scored on a throwing error by Olivet.
"We made contact with the ball. We just need to adjust to the fast pitching after the slow pitching we faced in previous games," said coach Joe Speybroeck.
The Belles gave up seven of Olivet's runs on errors but gave up no home runs to the Comets.
"We looked ready to play, but certain days it's just not there." Speybroeck said.
For Saturday's game against Defiance College, Saint Mary's hopes to bring their offense together.
Speybroeck wants to see more connection with the ball and more players on base.
Last season, the Belles split the series with the Lady Jackets, losing 5-4 and winning 9-1. Defiance is currently 2-12 on the season and is faced with a seven game losing streak.
Speybroeck said the players look solid this year and last night should not be an indicator to what the rest of the season will be.
"I feel very positive for the rest of the season," said Speybroeck.
After facing Defiance at home, Goshen College will come to Saint Mary's before the Belles go on the road for several conference games.
All Sports Stories for Thursday, March 30, 2000
