The WC women's softball team has a full schedule this weekend, playing Catholic University at home this afternoon (Friday) and traveling to Muhlenberg tomorrow for a conference doubleheader.
The Shorewomen look to beat the Mules - "always a solid team," according to WC Coach Louie Richardson - and improve their Centennial Conference standing. "Winning would help our cause down the road" heading into playoffs, he said.
While the players still need to work on staying mentally focused during entire games, especially during the snow and freezing temperatures they faced recently at Haverford and McDaniel, Richardson said, "They come together great as a team. They're great at picking each other up. They really are a team."
At home against Ursinus this week, the team suffered a "big disappointment," losing both games of the doubleheader, 10-2 and 4-3. Junior Meg Travers launched her third home run in as many home games, driving in both of WC's runs in the first contest, but Ursinus matched the feat with two home runs in each game.
The Shorewomen struggled from the start, giving up five runs in the top of the first inning. "We just started off badly," Richardson said. "We had one bad inning."
Facing Ursinus' Mallory Greene, who earned Centennial Conference Pitcher of the Year honors in 2005 and 2006, WC's hitters were unable to make a comeback. "Ursinus has good pitching," Richardson said. "It's hard to score a lot of runs off them."
The Shorewomen scored only three runs in the second game, but they led 3-1 until the Bears snatched the lead late in the game to clinch the win.
"We played much better the second game," Richardson said. "Michelle [Laque] has been pitching great lately." Laque, a junior, saw limited time in the pitcher's circle last season because of an injury.
After the games, the Shorewomen were visibly unhappy with the tough loss. "We had the opportunity to beat a top team in the conference," Richardson said, pointing out that Ursinus finished second in 2006 and was the top-ranked team going into this season.
The Shorewomen face the Catholic University Cardinals in a non-conference doubleheader at 3 p.m. today (Fri.) After battling Muhlenberg in Allentown this weekend, they will play Swarthmore at home on Tues., Apr. 17th at 3 p.m.
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