Western Courier

Issue date: 5/2/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Martyn Davis Sophomore pitcher Lori Pankratz struck out six in seven innings against Iowa.

Media Credit: Martyn Davis Senior first baseman Samantha Valentine is hitting .385 this season.

The inability to score late in games has hindered the 'Winds softball team in three previous games and did so again against Iowa on Wednesday, as they fell 2-0.

Western (8-32 6-10 Summit) could not capitalize with two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh inning and the Hawkeyes held on for the close victory.

The 'Winds have put together rallies late in games but cannot seem to come up with timely hits. The way they have been able to rally may serve as a confidence booster.

"I think the good thing about (having close games) is our drive to come back. We are not just getting down on ourselves when we trail two or three runs," coach Holly Van Vlymen said. "We play with heart and passion and we have the fight to keep coming back so I think its good. That's something I really appreciate and that's going to make us come through when we really need it."

Van Vlymen has been working on situational hitting and preaching coming up with timely hits, but the 'Winds have struggled to do so lately in pivotal positions. The mindset in game situations is more intense.

"Their mentality in practice doesn't always match their mentality in games. I think we need to take that mentality and that confidence and relaxed sense we have in practice and really try to transfer it into the games," Van Vlymen said. "In games we tend to get a little more anxious. You want to get it done so bad and you end up getting too excited and not executing."

Sophomore pitcher Lori Pankratz gave a solid effort against the Hawkeyes gong the full seven innings striking out six and allowing six hits. The offense for the 'Winds was dismal only tallying two hits.

The hitting and pitching for the 'Winds has alternated roles as of late, with the pitching stepping up and the batting not putting up the numbers it has earlier this season.

"The offense took the mindset that we are going to have to score runs in order to win and now that our pitching has stepped up I don't know if they feel they don't need to score as many runs," Van Vlymen said. "They may have a relaxed state at the plate and it may not be an urgency to score as in previous games. It might just be a mentality thing we just need to have that fight all the time."

Western will face UMKC in the final series of the season this weekend and Van Vlymen has stressed the importance of winning against the Kangaroos. The winner of the series will decide the final spot in the Summit League tournament.

"We need to win two out of three games to go to the tournament. They need to know that we control our own destiny," Van Vlymen said "It doesn't come down to what this team does here and what this team does there it comes down to us winning two out of three games."

Game 1 starts Friday at 3 p.m.

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