The University of Puget Sound’s softball team dropped both games in their doubleheader against Northwestern University on Feb. 14.
Puget Sound lost the first game with a score of 8-1 and lost the second game with a score of 10-3. The team’s record changes to 0-6 after the weekend.
Softball’s doubleheader against Northwestern University is the last preseason series before the team starts conference play against Pacific at home on Feb. 28. Conference foe Linfield is ranked 17th in the nation.
“Before going into conference play, our team needs to find a groove offensively and individually work on the small details for each of our positions,” sophomore Catcher Bailee Larson (Tacoma, Wash) said.
Larson hit her second home run of the season in the second game against Northwestern University.
University of Puget Sound was trailing 4-0 in the bottom of the fourth when Larson led off with a single-shot home run.
In the first game against Northwestern University, Nagamine hit a runner batted in (RBI) single in the bottom of the fifth inning to score junior infielder Lisa Colombo (Los Gatos, Calif.). That was the lone score for the Loggers in that game.
Larson’s first home run of the season and her first career home run came in a 3-1 losing effort to Pomona-Pitzer on Feb. 7. Larson is hitting .474 batting average on the season with four RBIs. Her on-base percentage is .500.
“I just have to continue to stay focused on the box. What motivates me offensively is my team, so I just need to continue to do whatever it is to help my teammates,” Larson said.
Nagamine is second on the team with a .294 batting average (minimum 10 at-bats) and three RBI’s. Colombo is tied for most runs scored on the team with three.
The University of Puget Sound’s softball team has a .241 batting average with a .294 on base percentage and a .310 slugging percentage.
“We need to improve on our consistency at the plate. By stepping into the box with a confident mindset, it’ll help us stay aggressive and drive the ball harder,” sophomore outfielder Kristi Nagamine (Honolulu, Hawaii) said.
Defensively the team’s earned run average (ERA) is 5.81. Sophomore Pitcher Jaci Young (Aiea, Hawaii) has a 4.88 ERA, which is the lowest on the team. Opponents are averaging a .351 batting average.
“Pitchers succeed when their defense makes plays. As an outfielder, it’s important to go hard for every ball. Even if you dive for a ball and miss, your pitcher knows you’re trying your best,” Nagamine said.
Many players on the Puget Sound softball team reiterate the bond that exists between teammates.
They believe that it is important to their future success that the team relaxes.
The University of Puget Sound’s softball team is very young.
There is only one senior and a total of four upper classmen on the team. There are six first years on the team.
It is imperative that the team must rely heavily on their younger players to find success this session.
Four first years started in the first game against Northwestern University.
