Softball is Still Alive
By John Scognamiglio
Well, after the first day of play in the MIAA tournament, a tournament the 'Dogs need to win to get to the NCAA tournament, the squad is still in the hunt.
Game one was the Hickory Stick battle with Northwest Missouri State. In the team's regular season meeting, the Bulldogs dropped a pair of tough 1-0 losses to the Bearcats. Senior Loni Wedemeier took the mound against the Bearcat ace Nicole Krueger. However, today was no Nightmare on Elm Street for the team as they beat the Bearcats 3-0, with Wedemeier going the distance.
Shortstop Hallie Blackney did the most damage in the third inning where the 'Dogs took a 2-0 lead. With Kate Noski on second and Wedemeier on first with two outs, Blackney took Krueger to left field on a double, scoring Noski and Wedemeier. That was more than enough for the Bulldog ace, as she scattered four hits and struck out seven.
The Bulldogs were the only lower-seeded team to advance into the good half of the second round. Their reward, Missouri Western. In the regular season, the team lost both games to Missouri Western in St. Joseph by scores of 6-3 and 5-3.
Wedemeier strolled back to the mound for game two to take on the Griffons Kristi Warnecke. The Griffons struck first, scoring one run in the top of the first. The damage could have been more disastrous, but Wedemeier worked around the bases loaded to keep the score 1-0.
The 'Dogs struck back in the bottom of the second. Wedemeier led off the inning with a walk and a stolen base when Blackney laid down a sacrifice bunt to get Wedemeier to third base with one out. Wedemeier scored on a wild pitch with Kelly Walsma at the dish to even the score 1-1.
The Griffons would have the last laugh though. With two outs in the top of the fourth inning, Wedemeier gave up a home run to right fielder Lindsey Rizzuti (maybe a distant relative of former Yankee Phil Rizzuto).
With the score at 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh, the 'Dogs needed some help. Blackney responded by leading off the inning with a double to center field. After a pop out by Walsma, Gina Walsh walked to put runners on first and second with one out. It was not meant to be though, as Ashlie Miller lined out to third base and Lindsey Rock grounded out to the pitcher to end the game.
With the loss, the Bulldogs found themselves in the losers bracket taking on Central Missouri State. Finally, the Bulldogs found an opponent in the tournament that they had beaten in the regular season, a 2-0 decision following a 3-2 loss all the way back on April 8.
Once again, the opposing team struck first. Walsma got the start in the game and worked through two solid innings. In the third inning, the Jennies struck. Kristy Furrer led off the inning with a double to right field. After a sacrifice bunt, the Jennies capitalized on a Bulldog error scoring Furrer.
The Bulldogs had a quick reply, though. In the bottom half of the inning, Miller and Rock led off the inning with back to back singles. When Mary Kate Thierault was caught stealing, a pair of Jennies errors opened the door. With the bases loaded with one out, Kate Noski reached first on a fielder's choice scoring Christen Belcher and Lindsey Rock.
After the Jennies tied the score in the top of the fourth, the Bulldogs answered with three more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Ashley McDougal picked up the win, going the last three and two-thirds innings as the Bulldogs survived day one of the MIAA tournament 5-2.
The Bulldogs open up Saturday at noon still on the loser's half of the bracket, but in the semifinals of that bracket. Their opponent: those Bearcats from Northwest Missouri. For all softball fans, I wish the team good luck on and hope they kick some butt.
Well, after the first day of play in the MIAA tournament, a tournament the 'Dogs need to win to get to the NCAA tournament, the squad is still in the hunt.
Game one was the Hickory Stick battle with Northwest Missouri State. In the team's regular season meeting, the Bulldogs dropped a pair of tough 1-0 losses to the Bearcats. Senior Loni Wedemeier took the mound against the Bearcat ace Nicole Krueger. However, today was no Nightmare on Elm Street for the team as they beat the Bearcats 3-0, with Wedemeier going the distance.
Shortstop Hallie Blackney did the most damage in the third inning where the 'Dogs took a 2-0 lead. With Kate Noski on second and Wedemeier on first with two outs, Blackney took Krueger to left field on a double, scoring Noski and Wedemeier. That was more than enough for the Bulldog ace, as she scattered four hits and struck out seven.
The Bulldogs were the only lower-seeded team to advance into the good half of the second round. Their reward, Missouri Western. In the regular season, the team lost both games to Missouri Western in St. Joseph by scores of 6-3 and 5-3.
Wedemeier strolled back to the mound for game two to take on the Griffons Kristi Warnecke. The Griffons struck first, scoring one run in the top of the first. The damage could have been more disastrous, but Wedemeier worked around the bases loaded to keep the score 1-0.
The 'Dogs struck back in the bottom of the second. Wedemeier led off the inning with a walk and a stolen base when Blackney laid down a sacrifice bunt to get Wedemeier to third base with one out. Wedemeier scored on a wild pitch with Kelly Walsma at the dish to even the score 1-1.
The Griffons would have the last laugh though. With two outs in the top of the fourth inning, Wedemeier gave up a home run to right fielder Lindsey Rizzuti (maybe a distant relative of former Yankee Phil Rizzuto).
With the score at 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh, the 'Dogs needed some help. Blackney responded by leading off the inning with a double to center field. After a pop out by Walsma, Gina Walsh walked to put runners on first and second with one out. It was not meant to be though, as Ashlie Miller lined out to third base and Lindsey Rock grounded out to the pitcher to end the game.
With the loss, the Bulldogs found themselves in the losers bracket taking on Central Missouri State. Finally, the Bulldogs found an opponent in the tournament that they had beaten in the regular season, a 2-0 decision following a 3-2 loss all the way back on April 8.
Once again, the opposing team struck first. Walsma got the start in the game and worked through two solid innings. In the third inning, the Jennies struck. Kristy Furrer led off the inning with a double to right field. After a sacrifice bunt, the Jennies capitalized on a Bulldog error scoring Furrer.
The Bulldogs had a quick reply, though. In the bottom half of the inning, Miller and Rock led off the inning with back to back singles. When Mary Kate Thierault was caught stealing, a pair of Jennies errors opened the door. With the bases loaded with one out, Kate Noski reached first on a fielder's choice scoring Christen Belcher and Lindsey Rock.
After the Jennies tied the score in the top of the fourth, the Bulldogs answered with three more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Ashley McDougal picked up the win, going the last three and two-thirds innings as the Bulldogs survived day one of the MIAA tournament 5-2.
The Bulldogs open up Saturday at noon still on the loser's half of the bracket, but in the semifinals of that bracket. Their opponent: those Bearcats from Northwest Missouri. For all softball fans, I wish the team good luck on and hope they kick some butt.
posted by Anonymous at Friday, May 05, 2006
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