Softball kicks off big ’08 season

    The GCSU softball team is not dropping their heads after a 2-2 start to the season last weekend at the Early Bird Tournament in Aiken, S.C.
    The Lady Bobcats started the season off Saturday with two wins, but Sunday the team dropped two tight games.
    Head Coach Ginger Chaffinch was especially pleased with the team’s pitching.
    “We played pretty well on Saturday, we hit the ball well, and we had good pitching,” Chaffinch said. “Our first two games were pretty good, we continued to have good pitching on Sunday, but we just didn’t do what we need to do at the plate.”
    The No. 23 Lady Bobcats opened the season against Alderson-Broaddus College. Junior pitcher Mandy Chandler dominated the Battlers lineup striking out 15 batters in seven innings to record the shutout.
    Junior second baseman Lindsey Swanson knocked in both of the Lady Bobcats’ runs, while junior first baseman Kori Pickowitz made her GCSU debut in a big way with three hits in as many chances.
    The second game was not nearly as close. The Lady Bobcats bats came alive producing 11 runs, while the defense surrendered only four to the University of Charleston.
    Sophomore pitcher Jana Shiver got the start on the mound. In five innings of work, she fanned five Golden Eagles before Junior Tonya Medders took over to record the save in the final two innings.
    Junior centerfielder Sherquita Bostick, a junior college transfer, notched two hits and three RBI’s in the game, while sophomore shortstop Kayla Smith and senior outfielder Brianna Hope each recorded three hits.
    The outcomes Sunday were not as bright for the Lady Bobcats with losses to No. 21 Kutztown University and West Virginia Wesleyan College.
    In the first game GCSU faced their first major challenge against Kutztown.
    Chandler pitched well striking out 10 bear hitters in seven innings, but surrendered four runs to take her first loss of the season.
    Bostick highlighted the Lady Bobcat’s offense with a two-for-four performance including a double, while junior first baseman Chelsea Wilson added a pinch-hit homerun, but it would not be enough as the team could only muster two runs.
    “The game was tight the whole time,” Chandler said. “I really thought we were better than them – I’m always going to say that – we faced a couple of unexpected issues with the sun. Our catcher couldn’t really see for a couple of innings and it was kind of a tough start. But, we just couldn’t really figure out how to hit (their pitcher), but I think if we saw her again it would be a lot different.”
    In the late game three errors would prove to be the difference in the 3-1 game.
    “We started strong coming out Saturday and getting those first two wins,” Pickowitz said. “We didn’t finish as strong as we would like but I think in the next couple of weekends we will play solid ball.”
    Chaffinch and Chandler both stressed that they feel the team will do good things this year.
    “I think we’re going to have a really good season,” Chaffinch said. “Our goal is always to win the conference and make it back to regionals for the third year in a row.”
    Chaffinch and her players agree that this team has great chemistry that should translate into wins as the season progresses.
    “Chemistry is so key,” Chandler said. “I think it’s tough for girls to play well when they don’t really care for each other. I definitely have a lot better chemistry with the girls than last year and that should help a lot. It feels a lot more like two years ago when we went to nationals and we all loved each other.”
    The Lady Bobcats are back in action this weekend when they travel to Tennessee. Saturday they travel to Lincoln Memorial University and Sunday they play Tusculum College. Their first home game is slated for Wednesday, Feb. 27, when they host the University of West Georgia.
    “Last weekend was kind of an eye opener,” returning starting catcher Shelbie Lindsey, a senior, said. “I think we had glimpses of how we should play – we didn’t play up to our potential – but I think we learned the things we need to learn to have the strong season we expect.”

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Feb 15 2008. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry