The women’s softball team closed up their season this past week with two wins and two losses, capping a hard-fought and determined 2014 run. After learning a lot during the year and garnering speed in the last few weeks of the season, the Lions had an impressive comeback and can finish knowing they gave it all they had.
This week, the Lions first took on Rutgers-Newark, where they were able to sweep the double-header. The first game ended in a 6-0 shutout as the Lions’ bats were hot and their defense even hotter.
Senior pitcher Alex Carisone was on the mound for the College and pitched a complete game shutout. With only a total of six hits, their opponents were silenced. Meanwhile, the Lions were able to come alive behind this stellar pitching.
In the fifth inning, freshman second baseman Colleen Phelan hit a double scoring two runs while sophomore catcher Jamie Purcell scored another run on a bunt.
Sophomore first baseman Deanna Utter then contributed with her second home run of the season which scored senior shortstop Kristen Lake and sophomore right fielder Kristen Fitzsimmons. Utter had a dominating game, going 3-for-3.
In the second game of the double-header, the Lions again dominated with a score of 7-2. The Lions began scoring again in the third inning when Phelan had a base hit and freshman third baseman Jessica Kennick followed with a double. Senior center fielder Lindsey Williams then homered to left field, scoring three runs.
Kennick soon had her fourth homerun of the season in the fifth inning, making the score 7-2.
Sophomore pitcher Ashtin Helmer was on the mound for the Lions and earned her fifth win of the season. Pitching a complete game, she had an impressive eight strikeouts.
In the final double-header of the season, the Lions fell to William Paterson University with two close losses. Although the College scored first in the first game, the Pioneers came back quickly.
Phelan got the Lions on the board early when she hit a double and then scored when Purcell singled. Purcell had a strong game with two hits. The Lions came close in a 2-1 defeat.
In the second game, the Lions came very close again but could not get that extra run in a 3-2 loss.
Williams got the game going with a solo homerun in the third inning, but it turned into a pitchers duel as both offenses were silenced for some time.
Sophomore left fielder Christine Desiderio was responsible for getting the tying run to second base in the seventh inning when she singled and advanced to second on an error.
All in all, the Lions showed they would not let a tough season get them down, as they emphasized there were more important aspects to work on than just getting wins. Forging stronger team bonds and developing strategies for future play were surely some of the many beneficial things to come out of this hard-fought season.
