MAR. 17 — Leafs Struggle In Conditions, Drop Pair At Tri-State

Team produces just one run, nine total hits in first contests since spring trip

(Game 1 Stats) (Game 2 Stats) Angola, IN — The last time the Goshen College softball team faced intercollegiate competition, the temperatures were in the mid 70s while sunny skies dominated.

Saturday at Tri-State University, the conditions couldn’t have been more opposite.

Goshen (3-6, 0-0) dropped a pair of contests in bitterly cold conditions to the host Thunder, falling 0-7 in Saturday’s first contest and dropping a 1-9 decision in the finale. The Leafs charted just nine hits on the day, finding the going difficult in their first contest since returning from Georgia and the week-long Savannah College of Art and Design Spring Break Smash Hit Tournament (click here for related article).

“The field conditions were miserable today,” said Linda Bontrager, Goshen head coach. “It was too cold to play, and I had a negative attitude toward the conditions. My negative attitude affected the players’ ability to get focused for the first game.”

The cold weather had perhaps a more direct effect on senior pitcher Tera Brackman, who started the first game in the pitching circle but lasted only moments, aggravating her pitching arm just two batters into the contest. Forced to make an early pitching change, Bontrager brought in sophomore Haly Williamson (1-2), who would finish the contest.

Tri-State scored all seven of its runs in the first three innings of work, while Goshen struggled to get any activity going at the plate. The Leafs had just four singles on the afternoon — freshman Diana Stanley had two — and were able to claim base on a walk just once.

“As usual our bats were slow to wake up,” Bontrager said. “Tera aggravated her throwing arm because of the cold and that caused us to be a pitcher down.”

Stanley (2-2) went to the pitching circle in the second game, and again Tri-State was able to do its damage early. The Thunder scored four of its nine total runs in the first two stanzas, again putting Goshen in a hole.

The Leafs put together its most solid inning of offensive work in the fourth, where three hits eventually pushed across sophomore Amy Clem for the team’s lone score of the day. Clem lead off with a single, and scored after Stanley ripped a double to left center.

Freshman Kathryn Schlabach was 2-2 from the plate in the loss, while Clem, Stanley and freshman Jessica Carney all finished 1-2. Stanley’s well-timed double equated to the squad’s only RBI on the day.

“We played a more focused, determined game in the second (game),” Bontrager said. “I wanted to cancel the second game and go home to avoid any more injuries, but the girls discussed the situation among themselves and decided they would rather play than take a forfeit. I was encouraged by their desire to play despite the terrible conditions. That kind of determination and fighting attitude was uplifting to see.”