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MAR.
23 — Goshen Stuns Grace In MCC Openers
Leafs
get timely hits, strong pitching performances for first wins
of season |
Winona Lake, IN — With a first-year
head coach leading a team dramatically low on personnel numbers,
success in the ultra-tough Mid-Central Conference was not a highly
regarded expectation from most fans and supporters of the Goshen
College softball program.
Apparently, someone forgot to tell the team.
Goshen (2-1, 2-0) came up with a pair of dramatic, if not surprising,
wins at MCC foe Grace College Thursday afternoon, defeating the
host Lancers by 4-1 and 6-2 scores. The Leafs never trailed in
either contest, giving head coach Linda Bontrager a sense of optimism
just three games into the young season.
“We are a very young team without much experience or depth,” Bontrager
said. “We managed to pull together today both offensively
and defensively, and got a pair of important conference wins.”
The Leafs opened their 2006 MCC slate with a bang, registering
two runs in the top of the first inning and never looking back
from there. Goshen added runs in the fifth and sixth inning of
play, while sophomore Tera Brackman (1-0) recorded her first pitching
win of the season, striking out eight Lancer batters while walking
just three in going the distance.
Freshman Amy Clem led Goshen from the plate in the afternoon’s
first contest, finishing 2-4 with a pair of RBI and a run scored
following a double. Sophomore Erin Layman finished 2-3, while classmate
Haly Williamson was 3-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Senior Kris
Polega was 1-2 from the plate, knocking in a run as well.
Bontrager’s squad didn’t get the immediate hot start
in the day’s second contest — the team did not register
a run in the first inning — but made up for it with an explosive
second at-bat, scoring five runs in the second inning to put the
game out of reach. Williamson (1-1) held the Lancers scoreless
from the pitching circle until the sixth inning, striking out four
batters while walking just one in the complete-game win.
Clem again paced Goshen from the batter’s box, going 1-3
from the plate with two RBI. Polega finished 1-2 with an RBI, while
Layman, Brackman and freshman Kim Yeakey all singled. Sophomore
Faith Borrell and freshman Danielle Nelson each scored.
“We had great leadership from the whole team today,” Bontrager
said. “We’ve got great attitudes on this team and great
work ethics. We will try to overachieve every time we step on the
field.”
Goshen will next return to out of conference play, as the team
will travel to Adrian College for a double-header on Saturday.
Game time for the first of two is set for 1 p.m.
|
Game 1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
|
Goshen |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
9 |
1 |
|
Grace |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
|
Game 2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
|
Goshen |
0 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
- |
6 |
5 |
2 |
|
Grace |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
- |
2 |
3 |
2 |
|
  Freshman
Amy Clem
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