After two weeks of preparation, the Goshen College softball team visited St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame for a double header on Tuesday.
“[Last Tuesday’s game] was a tale of two different teams,” said Goshen College Coach Lee Mast. “St. Mary’s College has a strong program and, in my mind, is better than any team we played in Georgia.” The St. Mary’s Belles came into the game on Tuesday with a 10-1 record.Both teams remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth when the Belles broke into the game leading by two. The Maple Leafs managed to defensively hold the Belles for the next two innings while offensively making it through the entire game without one a single strikeout.
Though every Maple Leaf made it on base, they struggled to bring in runs. The Belles took a 4-0 win as they brought in two more runs at the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings.
“The pitcher for St. Mary’s College is so good,” said Coach Mast, “and we’re still not there hitting out outside pitches, which is what they targeted.”
Game two proved to be no easier for the Maple Leafs as the Belles immediately took charge with a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Pushing their lead to 7-0, St. Mary’s power hitters Ashley Peterson and Cathy Kurczak each smashed solo homeruns in the second and third innings.
“I was warned that [Peterson] sets the pace for the team,” Coach Mast said. “The way she goes is the way the team goes.”
The Belles managed to get in one more run going into the fourth inning where they would score an additional four runs. With this 11-0 loss, the Maple Leafs record drops to 3-7 as they prepare to host Taylor University at 3 p.m. on Thursday.
