SPORTS
ehrend Beacon Friday, April 5, 2002 behrc
ftball finds home field not so friendly aft
Page
The Bi
Fredonia, La Roche sweep Behrend in doubleheaders; Lions fall to 4-15 overall, 2-2 in AMCC
by Zoe Rose
staff writer
After finally getting the chance to play a
game amidst the unpredictable Erie weather
nearly two weeks ago, the Behrend softball
team took on the La Roche Redhawks after a
postponed conference match March 29
against Frostburg State. The Lions lost both
ends of that doubleheader, 8-0 and 6-4. Thurs
day, the Lions took on Fredonia State, losing
PHOTO BY HEATHER MYERS / BEHREND BEACON
Safe or out? It may be too close to tell if Becky Corbin got this Fredonia runner out, but the
Blue Devils got the upperhand against the Lions on Thursday in 7-1 and 7-3 wins.
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7-1 in the first game and 7-3 in the second
one after having the lead in the seventh in
ning. The Blue and White have fallen to 4-15
overall and 2-2 in the conference.
The game against Fredonia was originally
planned to be a road game, but due to the con
ditions on their field, the doubleheader was
switched to Behrend’s field. Now that they
played several games on their new field after
several March cancellations, the Lions had
five players record at least one hit during the
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first game against the Blue Devils, who im
proved their mark to 10-4 on the season. Se
nior Kelly Woods and junior Cheryl Peterson
both had doubles and were l-for-3, while
Woods had the solo RBI. Jennifer Miller
pitched seven innings, giving up three earned
runs and 11 hits, with one strikeout.
Woods and Peterson dominated again in the
second game, as Peterson hit 3-for-4 with two
RBIs, and Woods went 2-for-3 with one RBI.
Stephanie Covert pitched all seven innings,
scattering 15 hits, with three
strikeouts and only one walk. The
game wobbled back and forth, but
the Lions were ahead in the sev
enth inning when the Blue Dev
ils’ offense exploded to take the
lead for good.
Play continues to get more
difficult for the Lions, as the
weather increasingly becomes a
vital factor. For now, though, it’s
hard for the players to focus on
softball when there’s a lot going
on in their lives, including their
busy school schedule. Things also
get stressful for the players be
cause the postponed games get re
scheduled around other games
later in the season, which means
the Lions sometimes have to play
two days in a row with fewer days
off.
“We play doubleheaders
each day and there is so much go
ing on in our lives outside of soft
ball,” said Polinick. “It’s getting
towards the end of the semester
Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference
www.meridiammcofCegeaveniie.com
and everyone is worrying about grades and
finals along with trying to win softball
games.”
In the first game against the ’Hawks, sopho
more pitcher Becky Corbin gave up seven
earned runs, 13 hits, and struck out six bat
ters in seven innings of work. The offense
struggled immensely, as the Lions had two
hits the entire game, one from freshman
Roberta Baker and the other from sophomore
Brandi Polinick.
The second game saw a much-improved
Behrend offense and some runs on the board.
Peterson had three hits, freshman Jennifer
Osborne smacked two, and Polinick contrib
uted another hit as the Lions scored as many
runs in game two against La Roche as they
PHOTO BY HEATHER MYERS / BEHREND BEACON
Freshman Erika Mack takes a big cut against Fredonia on Thursday. The Lions
return to their home field Saturday at 1 p.m. against Lake Erie and Monday against
Frostburg, both AMCC opponents.
AMCC
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er all
had the past three games combined. Covert
pitched five innings, giving up four earned
runs and six hits. Darkness halted the game
after five innings.
Polinick believes if the team is to beat Lake
Erie, it will need to improve upon two of the
most important factors in baseball - hitting
and fielding.
“Against Lake Erie we need to work on
playing solid defense and becoming more
confident at the plate,” said Polinick.
The Lions will be back on their home field
Saturday against the Storm of Lake Erie. The
Blue and White also play the rescheduled
game against Frostburg on Monday, the first
of five doubleheaders in the span of seven
days, before heading out for three road games.
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