COSTA MESA, CA -- The learning curve for the
Williams College softball team continued Friday when the Ephs
dropped a pair to Vanguard University, 9-3 and 2-1, to fall to 0-8.
The Ephs will be back at it Saturday, playing St. Olaf at 12
p.m. PST and Hamline at 4 p.m.
"We're continuing to get better as a team," Ephs head coach Kris
Herman said. "In the first game, we struggled a bit defensively and
they took advantage. But Megan (Casey) pitched well and we hit the
ball better. In the second game, Mary Beth (Daub) pitched -- and
hit the ball -- well. We hit three or four balls that would have
been out of our field."
Friday's nightcap featured a great pitching duel between the
Ephs' Mary Beth Daub and Patricia Olvera of Vanguard. The Lions
(20-14) scored twice in the bottom of the second on one walk, one
hit and one error.
The Lions had a chance to extend their lead in the third, but
Eph center fielder Cedar Blazek cut down a runner at the plate,
throwing a strike to catcher Caitlyn Cain.
Olvera kept the Ephs hitless through four innings, but in the
fifth Daub led off with a double. However, after a groundout
advanced her to third, Olvera struck out the final two batters.
With two outs in the seventh, Daub blasted a triple to center
field. Williams coach Kris Herman sent in Jess Cross to pinch-run
and Carly Ameen to pinch-hit and Ameen came through with an
RBI-single to make it 2-1. However, Olvera retired Amanda Correnti
on a fly ball to end the game.
Daub was 2 for 3 and also hurled six innings, allowing only five
hits while walking two and striking out two.
In the opener, the Ephs jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first
when Oriana Mcgee led off with a single and continued to second on
an error. One out later, Merliee Weston lined an RBI-double.
Vanguard responded with a six-run first off Williams starter
Megan Casey. The frame was aided by two Williams errors and all six
runs were unearned.
Williams threatend in the fourth when Weston singled and, after
an out, Cain walked. Correnti singled to load the bases and with
two outs, first year Erica Wu came through with a two-run single to
make it 6-3.
Williams wasted a Blazek double in the sixth, leaving two
runners on, and the Lions extended their lead to 9-3 on Amanda
Young's two-out, two-run, pinch-hit double in their half.
Weston was 2 for 3 for Williams.
Casey took the loss, allowing seven hits over six frames while
walking five and fanning three. Of the nine runs charged to her,
only two were earned.
