Today: Mar 28, 2024

Softball wins at home

Sam TapperContributor

Despite a slow start to their season, the Owls’ spirits remain high after the softball team split a double-header against the Greyhounds of Assumption College.

Sophomore pitcher Jazmyn Martinez started game one for the Owls, but quickly found herself in a jam, surrendering four runs in the top of the first inning off walks, stolen bases and some big hits from Assumption’s Kayla Peabody and McKenzie Richards.

The Owls did not seem fazed by the early deficit, as their offense immediately got going in the bottom of the first. Freshman left fielder Ivy Geloso put the Owls on the board with an RBI double, followed by a sacrifice fly from junior shortstop Julia Lener and later, an RBI double, that brought in tow runs, from sophomore center fielder Cailey Botteon to tie it at four after one inning.

“My team did a really good job getting runners in, in scoring position,” said Lener. “Having clutch hits and I just think that’s what we need to work on and keep pushing forward with.”

The Greyhounds quickly struck back in the top of the second, making the score 6-4, but the Owls answered by tying the score at six in the third inning.

The score remained tied at six until the Greyhounds took a one run lead in the sixth inning and blew the game open in the seventh, capped by a two-run homerun by Victoria Petrie. The Owls fell in game one, 13-6.

Despite trailing in the top of the first inning again in game two, after another three-run homerun by the Greyhounds, the Owls’ game two starting pitcher, senior Delany Turner, shut down the Greyhounds in the following innings.

“I kept the ball low, I was throwing a lot of drops and screws, some curveballs here and there,” Turner said. “Just kind of keeping them off their toes, they didn’t know where the ball was going to go.”

Turner pitched five and one third innings, not surrendering any runs after the three in the first. Her stellar pitching was backed by great play behind her, particularly from Botteon in center field.

“Defense was on fire,” Botteon said. “I just feel like we all worked very well together today and that’s why we came out on top.”

Botteon was able to contribute offensively as well, as she tallied two hits and three RBIs in game two. Freshman catcher Jacqueline Dumont also had two hits and three RBI’s while freshman infielder Alexa Bacoulis contributed three RBIs on three hits.

The Owls offense exploded in game two, leading to a 12-4 victory that ended in a mercy rule in the bottom of the sixth, improving their record to 2-14.

“I think we broke our little losing game streak,” Botteon added. “I feel like everyone’s hopes are looking up and everyone’s going to continue to play really hard for the rest of the season.”

Botteon’s outlook on the team, seems to be mutual, at least in the eyes of their head coach, Jill Rispoli, who was proud of how her team came to play despite their 1-13 record looming over their heads.

“The energy was fantastic from top to bottom,” said Rispoli. “I even think in game one we did a good job of keeping the energy up throughout all seven innings, which was nice to see and encouraging and all that stuff, because it’s been a little bit of a rocky road up until now. I really think the girls did a good job of keeping the energy up.”

The Owls, with the majority of their season on the horizon, still have work to do in practice moving forward, and as to what they need to improve on, Rispoli’s answer was quick and clear.

“Clean defense,” she said. “Clean defense every day, that’s the goal. And then the pitchers pounding the strike zone and then our offense continuing to be aggressive in the same way that they were today.”

Photo Credit: William Aliou

*Made a correction in the name of the author of the article.

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