MAY 21 — Leafs Start Off-Season With A Bang
Goshen signs pitching star Silver just two weeks after season's end

Goshen, IN — Wasting no time in continuing to rebuild the Goshen College softball program, first-year head coach Marc Green signed his second recruit of the spring Friday, landing Knightstown High School senior pitcher Ashlie Silver to a letter of intent.

Silver has recorded a three-year varsity pitching record of 30-25 for the Panthers, including a 12-7 mark as a junior. She has struck out 382 batters in just 362 innings of work, and has given up just four home runs in her three-year varsity career.

“Ashlie is a great pitcher who can also hit the ball extremely well,” Green said. “We are fortunate to land such a good student-athlete. She has a fierce drive to win and I am sure that will bubble over to the rest of our team.”

Silver also competes for a very competitive summer league team — the Indy Tradition — and plays in the outfield when not in the pitching circle. She has maintained a 3.25 GPA during her high school career, and said she plans to major in accounting once at Goshen.

“I like that Goshen College is a smaller school, and I’m looking forward to continuing my softball career there,” Silver said. “While I will miss my younger sister, I think that Goshen College is the right fit for me.”

Silver joins Bloomington North High School senior Erin Layman in this year’s recruiting class to date, as Layman signed her letter of intent in January. Green said that players such as these will help Goshen improve on its 6-27 record of this spring, and said he hopes to return the program to recent glory: Goshen won the Mid-Central Conference Championship in 2001 under head coach Dawn Austin.

“We are beginning to rebuild the program to where it once was,” Green said. “I am anxious as we continue to sign more talented young ladies to our team.”

Green said that he hopes to sign several more athletes over the summer months. Check back to this website for the most up-to-date recruiting information. To contact Coach Green, call him at (574) 535-7233 or click here to send him an email.

MAY 6 — Goshen Makes History In MCC Tournament
Tough season ends with monsterous win over Bethel before Leafs bow out

Pre-shot: Freshman Stacie Scott grips the bat tightly awaiting a Bethel College pitch in Thursday’s first game. She ripped a double on this plate appearance.

Deserving: Senior Tera Franklin stands on first base as assistant coach Michelle Wade gives instructions. A four-year starter for the Leafs, Franklin caught all three MCC tournament games on Thursday.

Marion, IN — After a season which saw various injuries, player departures and loads of adversity, Goshen head coach Marc Green proudly took his nine-woman roster into the Mid-Central Conference Tournament on Thursday — the minimum number of players a team is allowed to compete with by NAIA rules. With an overall record of 6-27 and a 1-14 regular-season MCC mark, the Leafs were seeded eighth in the tourney and would face first-seed Bethel College, a team undefeated in regular season conference play and clear favorite to take the tournament crown.

That’s when the Leafs did the unthinkable.

For the first time in the history of the MCC Tournament, an eighth seed knocked off a number one seed, as Goshen beat Bethel by a 2-0 score in the first game of the day at the Indiana Wesleyan University softball complex. Junior Rachel Solmos — who missed the majority of the season with shoulder problems — pitched an amazing game, striking out five Pilot batters while giving up just two hits. Goshen scored its runs in the fifth inning, when junior Tanya Ash knocked in freshman Stacie Scott and sophomore Jesica Fryar on a single to left-center field, while Fryar completed the game in the pitching circle giving up no hits in three full innings of work.

“That was the best game we have played all year long,” Green said of the upset. “Rachel pitched awesome to say the least, and we played well behind her making no errors. I was so proud to see all the hard work these girls have put in pay off in some way at the end of our season. To take nine people and beat such a good team like Bethel College. . .well, we clearly played extremely well.”

Goshen (6-27, 1-14) looked to continue its miracle run in the second round against Indiana Wesleyan, but a late run by the Wildcats spoiled the Leafs’ made-for-movie day. Goshen led by a 5-2 score heading into the sixth inning, but three runs from Wesleyan made the score 6-5, and the Leafs couldn’t respond. The Wildcats tacked on another run in the top of the seventh for insurance, and Green’s squad would move to the consolation bracket in the double-elimination tourney.

“We battled back from an early 2-0 deficit after (Wesleyan) hit a home run, and we stayed positive,” Green said. “Unfortunately, we could not hold the lead once we got it.”

Senior Monica Kingsley took the loss in the pitching circle, while the Leafs got production at the plate from senior Tera Franklin (1-3 with a triple and two runs scored), junior Alissa Kostyk (2-3, three RBI and two runs scored) and junior Tanya Ash (2-3, with an RBI). Fryar and Solmos each went 1-4 from the plate, with Fryar knocking in another run.

Facing third-seeded Taylor in the consolation bracket, Goshen simply did not have enough left in its bench-less tank. Taylor jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the second inning, and the nine-member Goshen squad could not mount a rally in its third game in eight hours.

Solmos was saddled with the pitching loss against the Trojans, striking out just two batters in six innings of work. Goshen’s lone run came in the top of the seventh inning — the team’s last at-bat of the season — as junior Tara Haynes knocked in classmate Megan Morris on a single. Franklin recorded a double, while Haynes finished 2-3 from the plate. Fryar was 1-3 from her lead off position.

“The last game of the day was draining on us,” Green said. “Rachel pitched her heart out before her horrible shoulder pain returned. We worked hard at trying to get close, but we were simply wiped. I was very happy with the way we played and competed all day, and we never gave up. I was extremely proud of the girls’ effort, as their hard work has allowed them to achieve some success that otherwise wouldn’t have been possible. We’ll continue to look to improve this off-season, and I’m excited for what lies ahead for our program.”

Goshen will now turn its efforts to the recruiting circuit, as Green said he hopes to sign several players to scholarships this spring and summer. Check back to this website for the most up-to-date team information and recruiting news. To view scores from all games at the MCC Tournament, click here.

APR. 26 — Leafs Can't Find Win At Illinois-Springfield
Goshen plays improved games but falls by 6-0 and 2-1 scores

Sophomore Jessica Fryar Junior Rachel Solmos

Springfield, IL — A long trip to central Illinois failed to result in wins for the Goshen College softball team Monday, as the Leafs dropped a pair of games to the University of Illinois-Springfield Prairie Stars by 0-6 and 1-2 scores. Despite the losses, Goshen committed just four errors on the afternoon (the team has averaged 3.8 per game) and was only outdone by eight total hits, stats that pleased head coach Marc Green.

“We are making improvements daily,” Green said. “It is starting to show maybe not in wins, but definitely in our overall play.”

Goshen (5-25, 1-14) got behind early in the first game, where junior Rachel Solmos was making her first start in the pitching circle since the team’s Texas trip in March. Solmos, who has been battling a severe shoulder injury, pitched two complete innings striking out one while giving up four hits. Sophomore Jessica Fryar entered in relief — Solmos was saddled with the loss giving up the first two runs — and struck out three Prairie Stars while giving up six hits. The Leafs recorded just five hits of their own, with singles coming from Solmos, Fryar, senior Tera Franklin and junior Tara Haynes.

“We got runners on base in the first game, but could never get hits once we got runners on,” Green said. “Rachel pitched well and had a great base hit. She is slowly starting to get back to form.”

The Leafs had a legitimate shot to win the day’s second contest, but a two-run fifth inning by Illinois-Springfield was enough to thwart an otherwise pitching duel. Senior Monica Kingsley took the complete game loss, striking out six while walking just one. Goshen responded in the sixth inning when freshman Stacie Scott drove in Franklin on a sacrifice fly, but that was all Green’s squad could muster offensively. Fryar finished 2-3 from the plate while Franklin was 1-3 with the run scored. Junior Alissa Kostyk was 1-1 from the plate.

“Once again the girls played hard for seven innings only to fall one run short,” Green said. “Monica pitched a fabulous game and Jess had two hits using her great speed. Alissa Kostyk also stepped up with a nice line drive hit to get a scoring opportunity on board. We just have to keep working.”

Goshen will begin the Mid-Central Conference Tournament Thursday, when the team will face Bethel College at the Indiana Wesleyan University softball complex. Game time has yet to be announced.

APR. 24 — Goshen Earns Split At Kalamazoo
Leafs take first game by 1-0 score; lose lead late in second

Junior Alissa Kostyk Junior Tara Haynes

Kalamazoo, MI — A near perfectly played Game 1 and an error-filled Game 2 equaled a split decision at Kalamazoo College Saturday for the Goshen College softball team, as the Leafs took a 1-0 win in the first contest but couldn’t hold onto a lead in the second and lost 5-4 in eight innings.

“We played very well defensively in the first game today, but we had our problems in the second,” said Marc Green, Goshen head coach. “We’re getting better each day. Now we’ve got to work on consistency.”

Goshen (5-23, 1-14) was able to score the lone run in Saturday’s first game on junior Alyssa Kostyk’s seventh-innning single that drove in senior Monica Kingsley. Sophomore Jessica Fryar captured the pitching win, holding the Hornets to just five hits in a complete game effort. Junior Erin Eberspacher was the only other Leaf to record a hit in the pitching duel, going 1-2 from the plate.

In the second contest, it was the Leafs that had control of the game throughout, capturing a 4-0 lead through four complete innings of play. Kalamazoo scored a pair of runs in the fifth inning, but Goshen still possessed a 4-2 lead in the top of the seventh — Goshen was named the home team in the second game by Kalamazoo’s preference — with two outs recorded. Unfortunately for the Leafs, a slew of errors helped Kalamazoo to score two runs to tie the game, while the Hornets added the game-winning score in the eighth. Kingsley was saddled with the loss in the pitching circle, as Goshen let one get away thanks in part to nine errors.

Junior Tara Hanyes had a strong day at the plate, going 2-4 with two runs scored. She also stole a base. Classmate Rachel Solmos was 1-3 from the plate with a run scored, as was freshman Stacie Scott. Kostyk came up with a 1-3 performance from the plate on a double, while senior Tera Franklin was 1-2.

Goshen will next travel to the University of Illinois-Springfield for a 3 p.m. double header on Monday.

APR. 16 — Leafs Can't Get Past St. Joe's On Senior Day
NCAA Division II program cruises; Franklin and Kingsley honored

Last goodbye: Seniors Tera Franklin (second from left) and Monica Kingsley (fifth from left) are honored between games Friday with family and Goshen head coach Marc Green. The double header with St. Jospeh’s marked the final home games the duo would play in.

Trapped: Junior Erin Eberspacher looks to relay a throw back to second base while a Puma base runner gets caught in a rundown in first game action Friday.

Goshen, IN — On a gorgeous, sunny afternoon, all was in place at the Goshen College softball complex for a fitting goodbye to the team’s two seniors in Tera Franklin and Monica Kingsley.

Unfortunately, the St. Joseph’s College Pumas had other ideas.

The NCAA Division II visitor came in and put on a powerful performance, taking 16-0 and 10-1 decisions over the Leafs, putting a slight damper on the post-game barbecue and senior day festivities. Nevertheless, first-year Goshen head coach Marc Green said he was pleased with the leadership and effort his two seniors have displayed all season long.

“It has been great watching our two seniors play and lead this year,” Green said. “Monica has pitched so much better than her record indicates, while Tera has had an excellent career and is always intense both offensively and defensively. She is one of the best catchers in our conference and I will miss both of these young ladies tremendously. I wish them only the best.”

Kingsley (2-9) got the nod in the pitching circle for the first game, while St. Joseph’s took full advantage of five Goshen errors and was efficient in scoring its 16 runs off of just 16 hits. The Leafs cranked out seven hits of their own, but couldn’t put any runs on the board. Junior Rachel Solmos led the way offensively, going 2-2 from the plate. Franklin provided a single going 1-3, while junior Tanya Ash, sophomore Jessica Fryar and freshman Stacie Scott provided Goshen’s only other hits.

In Game 2, Fryar was saddled with the pitching loss, although she helped herself by going 2-3 from the plate including a sixth-inning triple, which she scored off of on a single from Tara Haynes. Franklin finished 1-3 from the plate while junior Alissa Kostyk finished 1-2.

Goshen will return to action Saturday, when the team travels to Huntington for a double header. Game time for the first of two is set for 1 p.m.

APR. 15 — Goshen Suffers Disappointing Losses To Taylor
Leafs take early leads in both games but drop 2-1 and 5-2 decisions

Throwing heat: Sophomore Jessica Fryar throws a fast ball against Taylor in Thursday’s first game.

Belted: Junior Erin Eberspacher hits a line drive in second game action Thursday afternoon.

Goshen, IN — Promising starts to Thursday’s double header with Mid-Central Conference foe Taylor University were short lived for the Goshen College softball team, as the Leafs dropped 2-1 and 5-2 decisions to the Trojans after leading in both contests. Goshen led by a 1-0 score in the first contest and by a 2-0 margin in the second game, but couldn’t keep Taylor at bay in the remaining innings.

Taylor used a two-run sixth inning in Game 1 to take the lead, while Goshen (4-18, 1-12) could not generate another run after its lone second inning effort. Sophomore Jessica Fryar took the loss in the pitching circle, striking out one and allowing just five hits. Junior Rachel Solmos came in relief, but the damage was done.

Goshen collected four singles in the first game, with Fryar, seniors Tera Franklin and Monica Kingsley and freshman Stacie Scott supplying the hits. Scott’s single drove in Kingsley in the second inning for the Leafs only score.

The Leafs again controlled the tone for much of the second game, until Taylor started a three-inning scoring stretch that saw the Trojans score all of their runs. Kingsley was saddled with the complete-game pitching loss, striking out five and walking none. Solmos and junior Tara Haynes each knocked out RBI-producing doubles in the first inning, while Solmos and Fryar scored the Leafs’ two runs. Kingsley helped her cause by going 1-3 from the plate, while Scott did the same.

Goshen will return to action Friday, when the team hosts St. Joseph’s College in a twin bill, with the first game slated to begin at 3 p.m. Seniors Franklin and Kingsley will be honored between games, as it will be the final home games of the season for the Leafs.

APR. 13 — Leafs Sweep Rochester 15-0, 5-1
Solmos returns to lineup after month and a half absence

Goshen, IN — It’s safe to say that Tuesday was a very good day for the Goshen College softball team, as the squad put together its first winning streak of the season in 15-0 and 5-1 wins over visiting Rochester College. In addition to the victories, the Leafs also welcomed the return of junior pitching star Rachel Solmos to the lineup, after a severe right shoulder injury kept her sidelined for a month and a half. Solmos returned to action with a bang — the school’s career leader in pitching wins, strikeouts and ERA went a total 3-7 from the plate in a designated hitter role while pitching two complete innings in the second game and striking out three.

“I thought we played complete games today, meaning we put it together both offensively and defensively,” said Marc Green, Goshen head coach. “And, it was nice to have our co-captain back in Rachel Solmos. She gave us a big shot in the arm with her performance at the plate and got a short stint on the mound, looking like the old Rachel we know.”

And while Solmos may have provided the team a spark, she is still limited in her pitching role. While doctors elected not to repair damaged tendons in her throwing elbow to allow time to heal them, Solmos is on a strict pitching limitation for the next few weeks.

“She is cleared to play, and the doctors want her to play, but they are carefully monitoring her recovery,” said Bill Kinsey, Goshen College athletic trainer. “She has a pitch count restriction on her right now, and she needs three days recovery time after each pitching stint.”

Limited or not, Green will obviously accept the return of Solmos to the lineup in any capacity, as the Leafs (4-16, 1-10) continue to push forward despite being undermanned. Tuesday, however, Goshen made Rochester look ill-equipped, pounding the Warriors with 14 hits in Game 1. Seniors Monica Kingsley and Tera Franklin, junior Erin Eberspacher, sophomore Jessica Fryar and freshman Stacie Scott all had two hits in the 15-0 shellacking, while Scott cranked out a double and three RBI. Kingsley knocked in four runs while scoring two herself, while Franklin knocked in a score and crossed the plate four times.

Fryar was credited with the win in the pitching circle, giving up just two hits while striking out two in the win.

And while the second game may not have been as dominant as the first, there was still no question as to whether or not the Leafs would win. A two-run first inning keyed scores in the third, fourth and fifth innings to keep Rochester at bay. Kingsley took the pitching win, striking out seven Rochester batters before Solmos came in. Junior Tanya Ash paced the Leafs offensively, going 3-3 with an RBI. Scott again came up big at the plate, going 2-2 with a double and a pair of RBI.

“I thought that today was a culmination of a lot of hard work all year,” Green said. “The softball team has worked extremely hard even though our 4-16 record may not show it.”

Goshen will next host Taylor University Thursday afternoon for a Mid-Central Conference double header. Game time for the first game is set for 3 p.m.

APR. 6 — Goshen Faces a Tough Marian Squad
Fryar scores Leafs' only run

Goshen, IN — The Maple Leafs struggled against Marian College dropping both games 0-13 and 1-6.

Goshen was unable to get many hits in game one. Freshman Statcie Scott was the holder of Goshen’s only hit.

In game two, the Leafs were able to get more contacts at the plate(8), but it wasn’t enough to defeat the Knights.

Sophomore Jessica Fryar was 4-4 and scored the only run for the day. Junior Tanya Ash was 2-3 from the plate.

Goshen (2-13; 1-6) will host a make-up game against Bethel College, Wednesday, April 7 at 4:30 p.m.

APR. 3 — Leafs Earn Second Place
Softball team finishes 1-2 at Trinity International Invitational

Senior Tera Franklin Senior Monica Kingsley

Deerfield, IL— The women’s softball team traveled to Trinity International's Invitational on Saturday and came home with second place honors.

In game one, the Leafs lost to tournament champions, Robert Morris, 0-8. The Leafs’ only two hits just could not compete with Robert Morris’ seven. Goshen’s two hits came from seniors Monica Kingsley and Tera Franklin. Each were 1-2 from the plate.

Goshen improved their play coming up against tournament host, Trinity International, but had a disappointing loss with a close score of 5-6.

However, offensively the Leafs were strong tallying eight hits. Sophomore Jessica Fryar went 2-4 with a double while Kingsley was 2-3. Franklin, junior Erin Eberspacher, and junior Tara Haynes all contributed a triple.

In the third and final game of the day Goshen faced Trinity International again due to another team untimely dropping out of the tournament. The Leafs defeated Trinity by a score of 8-5 and earned five more hits than their opponent with a total of 12.