Women’s softball entered the 2013 season with high hopes and a brand new head coach, Kellyn Tate. Armed with four veteran seniors, the team also boasts a number of promising freshman players who are expected to make an impact on the Loggers’ future success.
Following last year’s seventh-place finish in a tie, the Loggers were picked by the NWC poll to finish in eighth place this season amid a highly competitive and tough conference.
The Loggers began their season with the Northwest Cup, competing in a double-header on Saturday, Feb. 16. In game one, Puget Sound faced College of Idaho.
The Yotes earned two runs early in the game, but their lead was shortly reduced in the third when the Yotes walked in senior catcher Amy Schmeckpeper (Boise, Idaho) from third with the bases loaded.
Senior pitcher Shannon Reed (Tacoma, Wash.) fought valiantly for the Loggers from the mound, striking out four and allowing six runs, one of which was earned, while pitching all six innings.
Yet the Yotes emerged victorious, cementing their win with a four-run inning late in the game that brought the final score to 6-1 in favor of College of Idaho.
Later that day, Puget Sound faced off against Concordia. The Loggers gained an early lead when Schmeckpeper drove in freshman shortstop Lisa Columbo (Los Gatos, Calif.) with a double, one of the Loggers’ three hits of the game.
The Cavaliers quickly fought back, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning to take the lead. Concordia never looked back, scoring five more runs in the game to maintain a perfect 10-0 record this year.
Freshmen pitcher Megan Campbell (Seattle, Wash.) took the mound for the first time as a Logger, pitching four innings and allowing four earned runs while striking out two.
Puget Sound took the field again on Sunday, Feb. 17. In the first game of the day’s double-header, the Loggers faced Corban (8-2).
Corban ran out to an early lead, outscoring the Loggers with four runs (compared to one run scored by Puget Sound) in the first inning. The Loggers briefly fought back in the fourth inning, with sophomore first baseman Marissa Jeffer’s (Issaquah, Wash.) two-run home run down the right field line.
Yet the Warriors’ offense could not be derailed despite Puget Sound’s best efforts and proceeded to score at least one run an inning, totaling 11 runs in their 11-3 victory over the Loggers.
The Loggers finished up the double-header with a final game against Oregon Tech (9-1). Despite a valiant effort, the Loggers could not stem the overwhelming offensive tide of Oregon Tech, falling to the Owls 11-0.
With the loss of all three of Puget Sound’s pitchers from 2012, the Loggers are looking to rebuild and prepare for a bright future.