The softball team concluded its Spring Break trip to Clermont, Florida with an overall record of 11-5.
According to Head Coach Ryan Sullivan, the team’s success can be credited to depth in its batting order.
“This is really helpful as you never know where the production for each game will come from,” he said. “And it allows all the hitters to do their job without feeling like they have to produce.”
The Bears headed into their final week in Florida with seven wins and only three losses, and looked to improve their record on Tuesday of the second week in a doubleheader against Anderson University and Gallaudet University.
Cielle Collins ’15 led the way offensively in both the 8-2 loss against Anderson and 11-0 win over Gallaudet.
The Bears’ offensive scoring against Anderson allowed them to jump to a 2-0 lead in the opening inning. Krul opened the bottom of the first with a single followed by a walk by Emily Griffin ’17, and a shot by Collins scored both the runners on first and second.
Anderson answered with a pair in the top of the second inning, adding one each in the third through fifth innings and three more in the sixth, serving the Bears their first loss in a three game win streak.
Bowdoin rebounded with their five-inning rout against Gallaudet, scoring runs in all but one inning. Griffin pitched to the opposing team facing 29 total batters and allowed only one hit, while tallying six strikeouts and two walks. The win advanced the team’s season to 8-4.
“Our hitting was a bit inconsistent at times, but everyone was always supportive and positive,” said captain Adriane Krul ’15. “Sometimes it is difficult to get out of a slump when you are playing sixteen games in ten days, but hitters were able to move on and compete with each new at bat. Also, our pitchers really came through for us in some tight games, and as a senior it’s awesome to see the team have the fight and drive to come out on top against good opponents.”
Bowdoin returned to action with another doubleheader on Thursday against Ripon College and Smith College, where they outscored both opponents in back-to-backwins.
The Bears jumped to a 1-0 lead immediately from a single from Gately against Ripon and added three more in the following inning. Marisa O’Toole ’17 startedthe second inning scoring, followed by a single off the bat of Alana Luzzio ’17 that scored Lauren O’Shea ’18. Luzzio scored on a wild pitch and the Bears led Ripon 4-0 after two innings.
Ripon cut the Bears lead in half with a two-run fourth, but Bowdoin responded with three in the next inning. Ali Miller ’18 scored and put Bowdoin ahead 7-2. Krul, Griffin, Victoria Rusch ’18, and O’Shea all scored, concluding the game with a 9-2 win.
Then, in the first inning against Smith, the Bears jumped to another early lead with a run by Geaumont. Jordan Gowdy ’18 opened the bottom of the third with a triple, but Smith quickly responded and cut the Bears lead in half in the fourth inning.
The Bears fired back with three straight singles followed by a Gowdy RBI line drive, allowing the Bears to advance to a 7-1 lead. Gately closed the inning with a two-run blast. Smith once again cut the lead with a two-run shot, but the Bears held onto their win, 11-3.
The Bears headed into their final day of spring break with a 10-4 record and concluded their season with a doubleheader against Fredonia State, where they won 6-5, and Keene State, where they lost 2-1.
“Julia Geaumont had a great trip for us,” said Sullivan. “She was awesome as a pitcher and really performed well. She also led us in hitting in the third spot and is a really key piece to our batting lineup. Marisa O’Toole has had a really good start to the season with a Week 1 NESCAC Player of the Week award last week.”
The team travels to Hartford, CT next weekend where they play Trinity College.
“I feel really good about our upcoming series against Trinity,” said Krul.