Softball: Spartan bats silent against Bluffton
Peter Cooke
Issue date: 4/24/09 Section: Sports
A dry spell stunted the Spartan bats again this weekend as they dropped a doubleheader at Bluffton University. The Spartans managed just one hit, getting shut out in five innings in game one. In the second game, the Spartans combined for six hits but managed to net just one run.
The weekend opened with Case failing to get a hit in the opening inning. Bluffton retaliate with a two run single after the runners advanced into position off a wild pitch. Freshman Kaeleen Boden got Case's only hit in the second, hitting a single to center field. Sophomore Beth Andrasik got on base on a fielders choice and later advance to second on a wild pitch, but would advanced no farther. Bluffton continued their scoring binge with three runs in the third inning before finishing the game with five runs in the fourth. The Spartans last chance to score was unfruitful, as Case went down 1-2-3, ending the game 10-0.
"It was a couple of big blunders that made the score so bad. It really should have been about 4-0 but we made some bonehead pitches and plays that really put the game out of reach," said coach Erin O'neill. "Typically when we don't play well and aren't competitive it is because we play scared…or developed a crappy attitude. And that is what I am trying to change in this program. Sometimes we get it, but sometimes we don't and that is when you see a score like 10-0."
In the second game, senior Ruthe Sagartz went pitch for pitch with Bluffton's Kristin Agauas. The game was scoreless through three innings and both pitchers didn't allow a base runner to get past second base. The Spartans opened the game's scoring with two outs in the fourth. Boden reached first on a dropped ball by the first baseman. Andrasik followed Boden with a right field single, moving Boden into scoring position. Boden scored on a pop-up dropped by Bluffton shortstop Chelsie Osborne, giving the Spartans a 1-0 lead.
But the Spartan bats burned out just as quickly as they had ignited, failing to manage a hit in the top of the fifth. Bluffton continued to create consistent opportunities and capitalize on them, scoring on a double to right field to regain the lead, 2-1.
The weekend opened with Case failing to get a hit in the opening inning. Bluffton retaliate with a two run single after the runners advanced into position off a wild pitch. Freshman Kaeleen Boden got Case's only hit in the second, hitting a single to center field. Sophomore Beth Andrasik got on base on a fielders choice and later advance to second on a wild pitch, but would advanced no farther. Bluffton continued their scoring binge with three runs in the third inning before finishing the game with five runs in the fourth. The Spartans last chance to score was unfruitful, as Case went down 1-2-3, ending the game 10-0.
"It was a couple of big blunders that made the score so bad. It really should have been about 4-0 but we made some bonehead pitches and plays that really put the game out of reach," said coach Erin O'neill. "Typically when we don't play well and aren't competitive it is because we play scared…or developed a crappy attitude. And that is what I am trying to change in this program. Sometimes we get it, but sometimes we don't and that is when you see a score like 10-0."
In the second game, senior Ruthe Sagartz went pitch for pitch with Bluffton's Kristin Agauas. The game was scoreless through three innings and both pitchers didn't allow a base runner to get past second base. The Spartans opened the game's scoring with two outs in the fourth. Boden reached first on a dropped ball by the first baseman. Andrasik followed Boden with a right field single, moving Boden into scoring position. Boden scored on a pop-up dropped by Bluffton shortstop Chelsie Osborne, giving the Spartans a 1-0 lead.
But the Spartan bats burned out just as quickly as they had ignited, failing to manage a hit in the top of the fifth. Bluffton continued to create consistent opportunities and capitalize on them, scoring on a double to right field to regain the lead, 2-1.
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