Marion, IN — As the Goshen College
softball team jogged onto Indiana Wesleyan University’s Wildcat
Field Wednesday afternoon to begin Mid-Central Conference Tournament
play, the team’s very presence was enough to exceed expectations.
Not many projected them to be there.
But there Goshen was, playing in the MCC Tournament despite a first-year
head coach, an ultra-slim roster and virtually no experience up
and down the lineup. After defeating Grace College twice and keeping
the Lancers out of the post-season — only the league’s
top eight teams qualify — the Leafs’ very appearance
at the event was enough to surprise a majority of onlookers.
Unfortunately for Goshen, its stay was short-lived, as the team
dropped a 0-8 decision to the host Wildcats in the day’s
first contest and then suffered a 0-4 defeat to the University
of St. Francis in the loser’s bracket of the double-elimination
tournament, concluding its season with a pair of disappointing,
yet noble, defeats.
“We did a lot of good things today, but we just couldn’t
get people in (for runs),” said Linda Bontrager, Goshen head
coach. “We actually hit the ball fairly well in the tournament,
but most of the time it was right to people.”
That was primarily the case in the squad’s first game against
Indiana Wesleyan, as Goshen (2-28, 2-16) could only find the turf
on two instances, generating a pair of hits while giving up 11
in the 0-8, five-inning loss.
Sophomore Tera Brackman suffered the loss in the pitching circle,
going four inning while giving up seven runs off of nine hits,
striking out two. Freshman Haly Williamson came on in relief, giving
up just two hits before the final run crossed the plate, ending
the game in mid-fifth inning.
Freshman Kim Yeakey and sophomore Erin Layman provided Goshen’s
lone hits in the loss, with Layman recording a double. Goshen stranded
five base runners in the defeat, as the Leafs drew three bases
on balls.
Bontrager’s team picked up its collective offense in the
day’s second game, but five total hits against St. Francis
again resulted in no runs scored. Williamson pitched brilliantly
at the game’s outset, keeping St. Francis scoreless through
three. Unfortunately, Goshen went hitless during that span, putting
no one on base.
Williamson’s streak of perfection came to a halt in the bottom
of the fourth inning, as St. Francis rattled off three runs on
three hits and a pair of costly Goshen errors. Just one run was
earned during that stanza, as again the Leafs would have to play
catch up.
After a one-run St. Francis fifth, Goshen stared at a 4-0 deficit.
The Leafs gave themselves opportunities in the fifth, sixth and
seventh innings, picking up all five hits in those stanzas while
stranding a total five runners as well.
Yeakey again led the team from the plate, going 2-3. Layman charted
another double in a 1-3 performance, while Williamson and Brackman
both singled, going 1-3 each in the loss.
Williamson took the pitching loss, going four and one-third innings
with just one of her four runs being earned. She struck out five
and walked none. Layman came on in relief, going one and two-thirds
innings, forcing out all five batters faced.
“Our defense looked good in a lot of innings, but (Indiana
Wesleyan and St. Francis) began timing our pitchers,” Bontrager
said. “That’s
when we compounded bad situations with some errors. Overall, though,
this season was a valuable experience for us. We improved greatly
in defense, had fun and stayed positive. The girls never gave up
or quit, which was encouraging. We have some work to do to improve,
but I am confident we can get back to being competitive as a program
soon.”
Check back to this website for the most up-to-date off-season news,
including team events and recruiting information. To contact
Coach Bontrager call her at (574) 535-7233 or click here to
send her an email.
|
MCCs |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
R |
H |
E |
|
Goshen |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
IWU |
1 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
8 |
11 |
0 |
|
MCCs |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
|
Goshen |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
3 |
|
USF |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
- |
4 |
8 |
0 |
|
  Freshman
Kim Yeakey
|
|
• Opponent: TBA
• Date: TBA
• Place: TBA
• Time: TBA
|
2007
Schedule Information Will Be Posted As It
Becomes Known
|
|
|
|
