It
was
a rough day at the ballpark for the Sioux Falls softball team, as the
Cougars (2-8) dropped back-to-back one run games at Hancock Park in
Clermont, Fla.
In
the opener, USF could not overcome the handicap of some atrocious
early-inning fielding. Bentley University (3-4) edged the Cougars 7-6
and none of the seven Falcons' runs were earned.
Game two was scoreless until a sixth inning miscue by the Cougars paved
the way for Saint Xavier (10-2) to post the 1-0 victory.
After
starter Bailey Bouman allowed Bentley a long, lead-off single, the
right-hander induced a sacrifice fly from the number-two hitter. A
passed ball moved the runner to third and she
hit the next batter to put runners at the corners with one out. Bouman
got the clean-up hitter to tap an easy infield grounder, but the
routine out became an unearned run for the Falcons when the Cougar
second baseman muffed the throw.
The
No. 3 hitter bolted to third during the botched delivery and an error
by the USF rightfielder gave her a clear path to home plate. Somewhat
unnerved by these developments, Bouman hit
the next batter and another passed ball put Falcons at second and third
with still just one out. Both runners would score on a first pitch
single and after a sacrifice; Bentley notched another tally on a dropped
third strike.
The Falcons kicked in another run via a dropped third strike, and when the dust had settled, Bentley had a five-run lead.
After
this unfortunate start, the Cougars put a run on a board in the bottom
half of the first frame. Samantha Kane knocked a one-out double and
scored on Shelby Thompson's base hit to right
field.
Bentley
got the run right back in the second inning with four consecutive
one-out singles and another infield miscue by the Cougars was the
catalyst for a sixth run in the third inning.
The
Cougars got up off the dirt with a three-run third inning. Lead-off
hitter Elliott Lenz reached base when the Falcon shortstop misfired to
first base. After a strikeout, Erin Scott's
ground ball up the middle put Cougars at the corners for redshirt senior
Shelby Thompson. The Sioux Falls native worked into a 2-0 count before
blasting a three-run shot to dead center to cut the deficit to 6-4.
Amanda
Walters relieved Bouman in the fourth and kept the Falcons at bay,
surrendering a harmless single and notching two strikeouts in the frame.
USF
continued to fight and cut the Falcons' advantage to 6-5 in its half of
the fourth on an RBI base knock from Lenz. She scored Priscilla
Quintana, who led off the inning with a line drive
single on a 3-2 count and had advanced to the keystone base on Walter's
sacrifice.
The Cougars had the bases loaded with two outs but Bentley got out of the jam with a 6-5 fielder's choice.
But
the defensive woes persisted for the Cougars in the fifth, as Bentley's
lead-off batter singled and then advanced into scoring position on an
error by the second baseman. USF was a strike
away from getting out of the inning unscathed, but the Falcons notched a
two-out RBI single on a full count to extend their lead to 7-5.
Walters
returned to the circle after a quiet sixth inning and set down the
Falcons in order. She tossed nine pitches at Bentley's No. 3 hitter and
sent her down swinging to cap the inning.
The
Cougars began their bottom of the seventh rally with Thompson's lead
off single to center. After a fielder's choice sent Thompson back to the
dugout, Shannon Daly drew a five-pitch walk
to move the runner into scoring position. Quintana came through with a
long single to left center that scored pinch runner Andrea
Sheppard-Kauwalu and advanced the tying run to third.
USF's rally would fall short. The next batter grounded out to short and the game ended on a strikeout.
Walters
allowed only three more hits and one unearned run in four innings of
relief. She finished with four strikeouts. Bouman allowed six unearned
runs on eight hits with a strikeout.
Thompson went 3-for-4 with four RBI and a run scored. Quintana had two hits and Kane was 1-for-3 with a double.
Game
two wasn't nearly as exciting but delivered the same heartbreak to the
Cougar nine. The game was still scoreless when Saint Xavier's lead-off
the sixth with what should have been an
easy 6-3 ground out for the Cougars.
But
the shortstop's throw was wide of the first baseman and the batter
darted all the way to second base. After moving to third on a sac fly,
Saint Xavier plated what would be the game-winner
with a one-out infield single. Walters retired the next two batters but
the Cougars went quietly in the seventh to drop their third game in a
row.
Walters
tossed a complete game, scattered four Cougar hits and permitted only
one unearned run. She displayed a good fastball and changeup, but her
main asset was remarkably fine control
as she didn't walk a single batter.
The
Cougars are scheduled to play a doubleheader tomorrow against St.
Joseph's College (Ind.) and Saint Michael's (Vt.). First pitch is slated
for 1 p.m. ET.
