Ann Basu

This past weekend the softball team climbed the NESCAC standings with an in-conference sweep against Colby. The Polar Bears then split both out of conference series against Husson University on Sunday and University of Southern Maine on Wednesday, leaving the team 19-7 (4-2 NESCAC).

Bowdoin dominated the Colby series, outscoring the Mules 27-1 across the three games. The first two games were played in Brunswick, where Bowdoin beat Colby 12-0 in both the first and second games.

Kate Hoadley ’20 pitched in all seven innings while only allowing three hits and zero walks and striking out three batters. In the second game, Sam Valdivia ’19 went 2-for-2 with two runs batted in (RBIs). Allison Rutz ’20 pitched five innings while only allowing five hits and one walk.

“[Our pitchers] have been very solid all year,” said Head Coach Ryan Sullivan. “It is nice going into a game and knowing that our pitchers are going to put us in a position where we are going to have a chance to win that game.”

Both teams traveled back to Waterville to play the third game the following day, where Bowdoin defeated Colby again 13-1. Infielder Maddie Rouhana ’21 hit two home runs and four RBIs. Rouhana’s performance contributed to her being named the NESCAC player of the week with a grand total of four homeruns, 10 RBIs and hitting for extra bases for five of her six at bats.

“In years past, we have played down to competition, so it was good to see us come out hot and score in almost every inning,” said Claire McCarthy ’18.

The team followed the Colby series by splitting a two-game series with both Husson and University of Southern Maine. On Sunday, Bowdoin lost to Husson 7-4 but then came back later in the day to beat the Eagles 10-1. The Polar Bears did the opposite on Wednesday, first beating University of Southern Maine 5-2 and then losing 10-4.

After these losses, Bowdoin looks to come back against Trinity in a three-game series.

“I think coming off a loss it is very important that we bounce back,” Natalie Edwards ’18 said. “We have to be hungry, but we can’t be anxious and on our heels. We have to relax but we also have to want it. So, I think the message is that the only team that has ever beat is ourselves.”

This will be an important weekend for the team because it is currently tied with Tufts (4-2) for second place in the NESCAC East Division. Meanwhile, Trinity (3-0) stands undefeated in first place. The Polar Bears look forward to the challenge, knowing that sweeping the series would help them climb to first place in the NESCAC East.

“Trinity is always a really solid team. There is always a really competitive rivalry because both teams are looking to make the playoffs later in the season,” said McCarthy. “We know that they are going to come at us full steam ahead, so we have to match that intensity while staying relaxed and trusting our team, without getting in our own way.”

Ann Basu

One of the largest challenges the team faces is fatigue. Currently, the team is playing upwards of five games per week. According to Sullivan, the team focuses greatly on time management in order to handle this schedule.

“We make sure that they know their schedules and when they’re going to have to free time to get their work done,” he said. “We work hard to make sure that our players have the chance to be successful in whatever they want to accomplish here. Sometimes that means we make sacrifices; sometimes that means they make sacrifices.”

Bowdoin will play one Friday afternoon game at 4 p.m. On Saturday the team will play the second game at noon, followed by the final game of the weekend at 2 p.m.