Losers of their first eight games, Puget Sound’s softball team went into their four game set with Northwest Conference rival George Fox looking for anything to stop their frustrating losing streak.
The weekend series began on Saturday, March 2 at high noon. As has been their tendency this season, the Loggers fell behind early.
George Fox began the bottom of the first inning with a double, a single and a fielding error that allowed the first run of the game to score for the Bruins. Three singles, a steal and a dropped pop up later, and the Loggers found themselves in a 4-0 hole after one inning.
However, the team was able to put together a rally, as junior Taylor Jones (Keizer, Ore.) lead off the third inning with a single, promptly stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Senior Tahni Arndt (Tacoma, Wash.) walked and stole second to set up runners on second and third with no one out. And following an RBI by freshman Lisa Colombo (Los Gatos, Calif.) and a fielding error, the Loggers scratched across their first two runs of the game.
The team would get no closer, however. Though the Loggers scattered six singles over the remaining four innings, they could not cut into George Fox’s lead, and ultimately lost the first game 8-2. Junior Jenica Holt (Pleasanton, Calif.) and senior Shannon Reed each had two hits to pace the Loggers.
The second game of the doubleheader began more favorably for the Loggers.
In the top of the second, the Loggers loaded the bases with two outs and sophomore Olivia Turner (Seattle, Wash.) delivered a clutch single that broke the scoreless tie and allowed two runs to cross the plate. One batter later, the Loggers dialed up a gutsy double steal that allowed Arndt to score from third.
However, the Loggers’ 3-0 lead did not last long. In the bottom of the second, George Fox player Courtney Howard hit a ringing double to center that allowed two runs to score.
George Fox used small ball to score the tying run in the fourth inning, beginning the inning with a walk, a bunt single and two sacrifices to tie the game at three runs apiece. The Bruins finally took the lead in the fifth, as an RBI single gave George Fox a 4-3 lead that they would not relinquish.
Looking for better results in their second doubleheader of the weekend on Sunday, Mar 3, the Loggers were buoyed in the early game by an outstanding pitching performance from freshman Megan Campbell (Seattle, Wash.).
Though she allowed ten hits and had to work her way out of jams in almost every inning, Campbell kept the Bruins off the board for all six innings of regulation. However, Bruins’ pitcher Rachel Fielder was just as dominant and the two teams headed into extra innings locked in a scoreless tie.
It was not until the ninth inning that the game finally came to an end. A single, an error and a sacrifice put the winning run on third with only one out. Campbell was ultimately done in by her defense, as the second error of the inning allowed the run to score and the Bruins to escape with a hard-fought 1-0 victory.
The second game of the doubleheader began immediately after the first, so the Loggers had to put the frustrating marathon loss behind them if they wanted to grab a win in the series.
The team got a shot in the arm early in the second game, as senior Brianna Huber (Chico, Calif.) hit a solo home run to give the team an early 1-0 lead. But once again, the lead was short-lived, as the Bruins scored two runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 2-1 lead.
Though the Loggers tied the game in the very next inning, on an RBI single by junior Chelsea Lindroth (Everett, Wash.) the Bruins scored two more runs to put the game out of reach and ultimately took the final game of the series 4-3.
This sweep was the latest setback in what is evolving into a very trying season for Loggers softball. Following their four games at George Fox, the Loggers are 0-12, including 0-8 in NWC play.
Despite their frustration however, the team can at least take solace in the fact that this round of games was far more competitive than many of their earlier games. Three of the games were decided by only one run, suggesting that the Loggers are closer to respectability than it would initially appear.
The Loggers have a weekend off and will look to regroup as they host conference rival Whitworth for four games on Saturday, March 16 and Sunday, March 17.
