(Game 1 Stats) (Game 2 Stats) Goshen, IN — A sunny yet blustery afternoon set the backdrop for the Goshen College softball squad’s home and Mid-Central Conference openers Tuesday, as the Leafs split with rival Grace College in a 14-6 Game 1 win and a 1-6 second-game loss.
While pleased with how the day began, the split was less than what second-year Goshen head coach Linda Bontrager said she was hoping for, as the Leafs’ 2006 composite win total came at the expense of the Lancers.
“I would love for the team that showed up to (the first game) to show up for every game,” Bontrager said. “I have no words for the second game, though. The team that showed up for Game 1 did not show up for this one. It’s tough when you have the hits, but it seemed that our heart wasn’t in the second game.”
Heart wasn’t a problem for Goshen (4-7, 1-1) in Tuesday’s first contest, as the Leafs opened with a flurry and withstood a mid-game surge from Grace to roll on to the five-inning win. Sophomore Amy Clem got things started in a major way, blasting a two-run homer on her first pitch in the first inning to help Goshen to a quick, 2-0 lead. After Grace responded with two runs in the second and three in the third, Bontrager’s team came up with a pair of large doubles in the bottom of the third — freshman Diana Stanley and senior Faith Borrell claimed the honors — driving in three runs to tie the game at 5-5.
A four-run fourth inning and five-run fifth closed the door on Grace, as freshman Heather FitzSimmons blasted her first career home run in the final inning of play.
Stanley (3-2) captured the pitching win, going the distance while striking out two. On the game, Goshen recorded a total 12 hits, six of which were for extra bases. FitzSimmons led the way going 3-3 with two runs scored and two RBI, while Borrell finished 2-4 with a career-high five RBI. Stanley did damage at the plate as well, going 2-3 with three runs scored and a pair of RBI. Freshman Kathryn Schlabach came up big plays at the plate as well — charting a squeeze bunt and a double — driving in three runs.
“I was pumped that we came out swinging,” Bontrager said. We had 12 hits overall and it was good to see both Amy Clem and Heather FitzSimmons knock out home runs. My hitters knew their zone and because of that we had nine walks. Hitting was evenly distributed and communication was high. We still had errors, but the girls were able to get past them and focus on getting the job done.”
Such was not the case in the day’s second contest, as Grace was able to use a late push to turn what was a pitching duel at the outset into yet another high-octane contest.
Senior Tera Brackman (0-3) began the second game with a steady performance in the pitching circle, striking out five batters while tossing a shut out through three full innings of work. Grace came alive in the fourth and fifth innings, however, scoring five of its six runs and collecting five of its nine hits during that time.
Brackman was eventually relived in favor of sophomore Haly Williamson, but Goshen could not get the bats working at the right time. After blasting Grace in the first contest, the Leafs would generate eight hits in the second game. None were for extra bases, however, as only a seventh-inning single from Brackman would push a Goshen score across the plate.
Freshman Maureen Gill was the only Goshen player to have a multiple-hit effort, going 2-3. Brackman, Clem, FitzSimmons, Williamson, Schlabach and freshman Jessica Carney all knocked out singles.
“Even though we had eight hits and four walks, we couldn't put anything together,” Bontrager said. “We also had three errors which cost us this time. Statistically speaking we had a decent second game, but team chemistry wasn't there. If we can get our team chemistry together for every game, we'll have good results.”
Goshen will take a break from MCC play this weekend, as the team hosts Indiana Tech on Saturday for a double-header. Game time for the first of two is slated for 1 p.m.
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Freshman Heather FitzSimmons