DePauw University softball had a full weekend with double-headers at home against Hiram College and Anderson University. A sweep of the Terriers and a pair of losses to the Ravens leave the Tigers at 6-0 in NCAC play and 15-11 overall.
The two games with Hiram helped the Tigers extend their perfect conference record. Coach Hanrahan emphasized the team effort of Saturday's games. She believes it wasn't just the starters who were making the big plays, but that the players who split time were key to their success as well.
"Beating Hiram for two was really awesome on Saturday, mainly because so many of our players were involved with the success," said Hanrahan. "Morgan Pigusch made a diving play in left field in the first inning of the first game that generated energy, intensity and momentum for us that was key to scoring first and playing with confidence that day."
Junior Taylor Golden commented on the amazing plays of her teammates that contributed to the pair of 4-1 wins over Hiram.
"Kahla Nolan pitching outstanding like always, Lauren Krumwiede making a game saving catch in left field, Linsey Button hitting a bases loaded double, clutch pinch hitters coming up in pressure filled situations and Sammi Bell picking off runners and hitting incredibly," listed Golden about her teammates.
Despite being quick to give credit to her teammates, Golden has been key to the team's success herself. The junior was named the NCAC Player of the Week after leading the team to a 4-2 record in the last week.
Unfortunately however, the Tigers didn't fair as well on Sunday, losing both games to the Anderson Ravens.
A five-run fifth inning powered the Ravens to an easy 11-1 win in the opening game on Sunday. The Ravens also defeated the Tigers 7-4 in the final game of the weekend.
"Sunday stung," sophomore Sammi Bell said bluntly. "We had a lot of great hits that they made unbelievable plays on. We weren't making the routine plays and the non-routine plays."
Hanrahan stated much of the same problems.
"We didn't execute defensively behind both of our pitchers," Hanrahan said. "We had some key base-running mistakes that can't happen if we expect to beat competition as strong as Anderson. Though the losses are disappointing, we choose to look at it from a learning standpoint. We have to continue to get better."
After tough games like the ones against Anderson, it is important for teams to keep a positive mental attitude to help continue moving forward. The Tigers did a good job of this on Sunday, encouraging one another consistently.
"Staying in good spirits is simple around our team because we are a family," said Golden. "I know that no matter what happens my teammates are there for me to either pick me up or cheer me on."
Although Bell is upset at Sunda's outcome, she is not worried about the team's future.
"The thing about this sport is that it is a game of failures," stated Bell. "Great hitters fail seven out of 10 times and only have three moments of success, and that's on a good day. While a lot of us aren't happy about the outcome of Sunday's games, I am not worried because I know my team. I have confidence that we are going to rise to the occasion on Wednesday because that's what DePauw softball is: resilient in adversity."
The Tigers will have to have a short memory as they face a double-header this Wednesday against Ohio Wesleyan.
"We are going to relax, allow for some healing time for our bodies and get back to our game," Bell said. "At this point we've worked on everything thousands of times. We need to do a better job of taking what we've been working on in practice and implementing it into our games."
First pitch against Ohio Wesleyan is scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday evening at the Softball Field on DePauw's athletics campus.