Saint Mary's drops doubleheader to Goshen
By KAREN SCHAFF
Sports Writer
The Belles' softball team was not in best form as it lost both of their games to the Goshen Maple Leafs.
Saint Mary's had trouble both defensively and at the plate throughout both contests. The Belles lost their first game 12-4, ending after the fifth inning because of the slaughter rule. The second game did not prove to be any better with a score of 13-2.
Goshen came out hitting very well. They had two home runs in the fourth inning of the first game totaling five runs. The Maple Leafs' third and fourth batters were consistently on base.
The Maple Leafs found the holes in the Belles' defense. Saint Mary's had five errors which gave the Maple Leafs six unearned runs. Sophomore Kristin Martin pitched game one, giving up six earned runs in five innings.
The Belles came out strong in the second game, but let the game slip away as it neared the end.
"They let [Goshen] chip away at them," head coach Joe Speybroeck said.
Junior Anne Senger pitched game two and held the Maple Leafs to only three runs by the completion of the fourth inning. Saint Mary's, however, had four errors and gave up nine unearned runs by the completion of game two. Goshen's Candy Feare hit a grand slam in the seventh inning.
The Belles ended the games with 14 hits and nine total errors. Goshen had 27 hits and only five errors for the day.
The high point of Saint Mary's day was freshman outfielder Katie Murphy. She ended the day with a triple and a double in the first game and a triple and single in the second.
"Today didn't reflect our team's talent," Murphy said. "We just didn't have it together today."
Speybroeck and assistant coach David Martin both think the team needs to work on batting.
"We have to hit consistently," Speybroeck said. "We have go to get the bats swinging."
Martin agrees and feels the team needs to play with more than just improved batting and fielding skills.
"This is an emotional game," said Martin, "They weren't playing with emotion today, and we need that."
Both coaches hope to increase the confidence of the team for Wednesday's double-header at Calvin College.
All Sports Stories for Tuesday, April 4, 2000
