After opening their 2014 season at 1–1 in the first day of the annual Shaw University Tournament in Raleigh, N.C., the Shepherd University softball team has since lost four out of five games.
In the second day of action at the Shaw Tournament on Sunday, Feb. 23, the Rams played a rigorous triple-header against West Chester, Virginia Union, and Winston-Salem State. West Chester claimed a decisive 10–4 win over the Rams, thanks in part to plating six runs in the seventh inning.
Erin Quense belted a three-run homer while Jill Murray batted in a two-run double to ensure the victory. In the second game of the day, sophomore outfielder/pitcher Shannon Lyons walloped a game-changing, three-run homer while junior first baseman Savannah Snyder led the Rams at the plate by going two-for-three in a commanding 9–1 victory over Virginia Union.
In addition, freshman pitcher Tara Hanson had an impressive performance as she allowed only one hit while earning four strikeouts in four innings pitched. The third game of the day against Winston-Salem State was not as satisfying as the Rams fell in disappointing fashion by the score of 8–7.
Nonetheless, Shepherd remained extremely competitive and had several chances to take control of the contest. Jess Mason who went three-for-four at the plate and hit her first career home run.
The Shepherd softball team returned home after beginning their 2014 campaign with several games on the road to play a doubleheader against Bloomsburg University. The games were originally scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 2. However, due to the threat of winter weather, the game was rescheduled to take a place a day earlier on Saturday.
In game one, Shepherd took an early 4–0 lead over the Huskies in the first inning and they looked to be well on their way to claiming a win. Sophomore Kass Taylor belted a two-run double to key the rally. Bloomsburg answered with a six-run scoring outburst in the second inning courtesy of a two-run double by Erika Yanora.
The Rams plated one run in the fifth, but it wasn’t enough as the Huskies added insurance runs in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings and claimed a 9–5 victory.
Bloomsburg continued to play well and remained in control throughout the second game of the doubleheader as they shutout the Rams by the score of 5–0. Shepherd players often looked frustrated with their play, especially at bat, and as the game progressed, batters simply began hacking at pitches as if they were trying to tie the game with one swing of the bat.
Freshman infielder Alexandra Witt was one of only a handful of players to have offensive success in this game as she led the Rams with a two-for-three effort.
The Shepherd University softball team will now focus on their upcoming games against Salem International at home on March 7 followed by games on the road versus West Chester on March 8 and Millersville on March 9.