2008 Woodie Awards
'Winds escape with one
Ken Woods
Issue date: 4/18/08 Section: Sports
| |
|
The first game was a back-and-forth battle. Every time the 'Winds (7-24, 5-6 Summit League) would score, the Jaguars (6-22, 3-12 Summit) answered back with a run of their own. This went on for the entire contest and left the score tied at four in the end of seventh inning.
In extra innings Western was able to pull out the win when sophomore Julie DePolo scored on a fielding error. DePolo led the 'Winds in the contest, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Freshman right fielder Colleen Biebel, sophomore shortstop Lauren Furgala and senior Britt Mason all had two hits as well. The team may have gained confidence from the previous victories against South Dakota State.
"I think the weekend definitely helped us," said coach Holly Van Vlymen. "We hit the ball really well, so I think we are going to continue to do so. I am not at all upset about our offensive performance."
In the next two contests the result was not the same. The 'Winds were always in the game but gave up two big home runs, which allowed IUPUI to win both games. Western took the lead in each contest but did not maintain it throughout.
"I think they are doing better. We have given up a lot more walks in other games, so that's getting better," Van Vlymen said. "But it's almost like we give up untimely home runs.
I can't be too upset because it was one inning or one big hit in both games, but they did good for the most part."
Amy Raker hit a three-run home run in the first game of the doubleheader to give the Jaguars a 5-4 lead. Western did not recover and went on to lose the game by the same score. Sophomore pitcher Lori Pankratz (3-6) suffered the loss in the contest, giving up seven hits while striking out four in six innings of work.
"It's kind of frustrating; it doesn't just come down to pitchers giving up big hits," Van Vlymen said. "We had runners in scoring position and couldn't come up with that timely hit, so it is frustrating but it doesn't come down to just the pitching. When we don't get timely hits, we are back to where we used to be. We are hitting to get on base, now we need to continue to hit to get the runs in."
The second game of the day saw the same late-inning heroics from IUPUI. Senior first baseman Samantha Valentine hit a home run to put the 'Winds ahead early. The lead would turn into a deficit as Jenna Crockett hit a three-run home run to take a 3-2 lead and the game.
The 'Winds will host Southern Utah in a three-game series with the first contest scheduled for Friday at 3 p.m.
Be the first to comment on this story