Softball swept by Saints in delayed series
Game one ended with a 5-2 Saints victory. NGCSU’s Leslee Smith ripped one out of the park in the second inning to take the early lead of 1-0. The competition proved to be fierce as both teams brought the attitudes of true rivals on to the field.
In game one both teams kept each other in check with good defense until the final two innings. During the sixth inning, senior first baseman Tonya Medders doubled, bringing home senior center fielder Sherquita Bostick and shortstop Lindsey Swanson, which upped the score to a slim 2-1 lead for the Bobcats.
It looked as if the Bobcats had pulled their mental and physical game together for a possible win.
The Saints had other ideas, warming up their offense late in the game. NGCSU’s Laura Voyles started the seventh inning with a homer to left center, which opened the floodgates for the Saints at bat. With a fluid hitting sequence, the Saints brought in four runs to pull the score in their favor 5-2.
Although the Bobcats missed the win by a slim margin, senior pitcher Mandy Chandler earned a tie for sixth place in Division II history for strikeouts.
Chandler responded like a true team player to this milestone.
“I would feel better about it if we had won, but it’s cool to break records,” Chandler said.
Game two began with overly excited parents jeering at each other and the umpire’s calls. North Georgia came out strong with three runs in the first inning alone on a bunt and strategic base running.
Both teams kept one another at bay until the third inning, when senior left fielder Haley Holloway slid into home plate to score the lone run of the game for the Bobcats.
As the game continued, the Saints kept the Bobcats at bay with an error-free defense. On the offensive side, the Saints scored one run in the fourth inning and another three in the final, seventh inning leaving the final score 7-1 in favor if the Saints.
With Wednesday’s sweep, NGCSU sits at the number one seed with GCSU right behind at the two spot.
Reflecting on the play of the Bobcats, Chandler does not doubt the team’s talent.
“I think we just need to make sure our mental focus is there. Honestly, I don’t think it has anything to do with our talent when we lose. I think it’s all about who’s mentally prepared to show up for the game and who’s not,” Chandler said. “I mean there are days where the talent’s not going to override everything else. Overall, I think everyone just has to come wanting to play and today wasn’t like that at all.”
Chandler did not want to make any heavy predictions about the Peach Belt tournament but believes in her team.
“I think that we are definitely going to put up a big fight in the conference tournament,” Chandler said. “We might not walk away with the championship, but I think we’ll get pretty close.”
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Apr 17 2009. Filed under Sports.
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