2008 Woodie Awards
Softball team comes up short on road
The Jacks defeat UMKC at Shocker Invite but lose four to Iowa State and Wichita State.
Nick Hartley
Issue date: 3/12/08 Section: Sports
The old saying, "close only counts in hand grenades and horse shoes," has held true for the Jackrabbit softball team. Coming into this weekend, the Jacks have been on the losing end of four games decided by three runs or less. After another tough weekend, the Jacks added two more close games to that count, as they went 1-4 at the Shocker Invite held at Wichita State.
"Overall, the weekend was full of positives, whether it be wins or losses. We played Wichita State, who had been receiving votes in the AP Top 25, close. And we had an opportunity to win the game," said head coach Joanna Lane. "I think overall, our offense is coming alive. We have some things we have to do when it comes to hitting with runners in scoring position and when it comes to moving runners by bunts and hit and runs. Despite a 1-4 record, we have plenty of things to be positive about."
During the Wichita game, Stacey Evans' two-out double scored Jessica Vineyard, making the score 1-0 in the first. Unfortunately, a multitude of early errors put the Jacks in an early 5-1 hole.
Ashley Durazo singled home Greta Stroh from third to make the score 5-2 going into the fourth inning. Brittany Postma singled and scored on a Kiley Schwedhelm single to get the Jacks within two runs at 5-3, but that was all the Jacks could muster.
Facing Big Twelve foe Iowa State, the Jacks found offense, but not enough, falling 15-7 to the Cyclones. Durazo reached on an error and scored on a Schwedhelm single, giving the Jacks an early 1-0 lead. After a six run first inning for Iowa State, Dani Broshar opened the Jacks' second with a single, scoring later when Durazo reached on an error, making it 6-2.
Down by four, Brooke Postma singled to open the fourth and advanced to second on a bunt single by Stroh. Sam Heinzman walked, loading the bases and bringing up Durazo, whose single scored Postma and Stroh. Vineyard singled home Heinzman and Durazo, tying the game at six-all. Iowa State scored six runs in the fourth building up a 12-6 lead. Stroh's first career homerun in the fifth gave the Jacks some hopes, but the Cyclones power game ended the game in the bottom of the fifth with three more runs with the score 15-7.
"Overall, the weekend was full of positives, whether it be wins or losses. We played Wichita State, who had been receiving votes in the AP Top 25, close. And we had an opportunity to win the game," said head coach Joanna Lane. "I think overall, our offense is coming alive. We have some things we have to do when it comes to hitting with runners in scoring position and when it comes to moving runners by bunts and hit and runs. Despite a 1-4 record, we have plenty of things to be positive about."
During the Wichita game, Stacey Evans' two-out double scored Jessica Vineyard, making the score 1-0 in the first. Unfortunately, a multitude of early errors put the Jacks in an early 5-1 hole.
Ashley Durazo singled home Greta Stroh from third to make the score 5-2 going into the fourth inning. Brittany Postma singled and scored on a Kiley Schwedhelm single to get the Jacks within two runs at 5-3, but that was all the Jacks could muster.
Facing Big Twelve foe Iowa State, the Jacks found offense, but not enough, falling 15-7 to the Cyclones. Durazo reached on an error and scored on a Schwedhelm single, giving the Jacks an early 1-0 lead. After a six run first inning for Iowa State, Dani Broshar opened the Jacks' second with a single, scoring later when Durazo reached on an error, making it 6-2.
Down by four, Brooke Postma singled to open the fourth and advanced to second on a bunt single by Stroh. Sam Heinzman walked, loading the bases and bringing up Durazo, whose single scored Postma and Stroh. Vineyard singled home Heinzman and Durazo, tying the game at six-all. Iowa State scored six runs in the fourth building up a 12-6 lead. Stroh's first career homerun in the fifth gave the Jacks some hopes, but the Cyclones power game ended the game in the bottom of the fifth with three more runs with the score 15-7.
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