(Game 1 Stats) (Game 2 Stats) Mishawaka, IN — Facing the top team in the Mid-Central Conference on its home field — and with the memory of a blowout loss still fresh from last season — the Goshen College softball team wanted to see if it belonged Tuesday afternoon at Bethel College.
After a slow start, the Leafs proved worthy of perhaps more than just belonging.
Following an 0-8 loss to the host Pilots in Game 1, Goshen (4-9, 1-3) came just a sniff away from knocking off its neighboring rivals in the day’s second contest, falling by a 0-1 score in the bottom of the seventh inning. After a brilliant, full-game pitching performance from junior Tera Brackman (0-4) it was Bethel that came up with the necessary plays late, maintaining its undefeated mark in MCC play.
For second-year Goshen head coach Linda Bontrager, Tuesday’s play was a positive on a variety of fronts.
“Our girls played very, very tough tonight,” Bontrager said. “Compared to last year’s games, we are making the necessary adjustments as a program. The next step is to teach the girls how to win. I know we can get it done. Today, in a lot of ways, is proof.”
Goshen, which gave up a 25-0 defeat in dropping two games to Bethel last season, again had problems generating offense on Tuesday. The Leafs combined for a total of three hits on the entire day, a stat magnified by a one-hit performance in the afternoon’s opener. After Bethel opened with six runs in the first two innings of work, Goshen could register just one base runner for the contest. Sophomore Amy Clem drilled a single to break up what otherwise would have been a perfect-game performance from Bethel pitcher Somer Stilley, who walked none and struck out nine in the win.
Goshen freshman Diana Stanely (3-3) recorded the pitching loss, going one and one-thirds innings while giving up all of Bethel’s six runs in the first two stanzas, though two Goshen errors accounted for two scores. Sophomore Haly Williamson came on in relief, finishing the contest in the pitching circle while allowing the Pilots just two runs — both of which came in the fifth inning — to shorten the game via the mercy rule.
With the realization that Bethel’s pitching staff was working on all cylinders, Bontrager called on Brackman in the game’s second game, and the right-hander would put forth her most impressive pitching performance of the young season. Trading innings with the Pilots’ Brittney Hire, Brackman kept Bethel guessing at the plate, going a full seven innings allowing just four hits and walking none.
Tossing a shut-out through six complete innings of work, Goshen needed Brackman’s dominance to continue into the seventh: The Leafs recorded just two singles through their seven innings of plate appearances, keeping the game tied at 0-0.
And while Brackman did not allow consecutive hits throughout the game, that trend ended sadly in the seventh. Bethel opened with a lead-off single and followed with an RBI double, ending the game in jubilant celebration.
For Brackman and Goshen, close was not the goal. But it was a step in the right direction, according to Bontrager.
“Tera really kept their batters on guard for six innings,” Bontrager said. “She pitched a very good game. The problem, for the most part, is getting our bats working. I know we can hit and our defense is on. Even with our relative youth, we’re able to stay in games against good people. We’re going to continue to work and teach in hopes of taking that next step up the ladder.”
Clem and freshman Heather FitzSimmons provided Goshen’s two hits in the second contest. Goshen left four runners on base in the Game 2 defeat.
The Leafs will next make the lengthy trip to MCC foe Marian College, when the squad will face-off in a league double-header on Thursday. Game time for the first of two is set for 3 p.m.
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Junior Tera Brackman