Riding high on the heels of a five-game winning streak, the Bowdoin Softball Team seemed unstoppable, with high hopes for locking up a NESCAC playoff birth with games against Brandeis, Wesleyan, and Bates. But after three-consecutive doubleheader sweeps, fans and players are looking for the rewind button.
On Tuesday, the Bears suffered a particularly hard-hitting loss to Bates. The two rivals, beginning the day tied for the final spot in the NESCAC playoffs, squared off in what became the last competitive series of the Bears' season.
Although the six-game losing streak destroyed the team's chances for post-season play, the Bears played with intensity and passion. Four of the six defeats were decided by three runs or less, and one of the games went into extra innings. The closeness of the games not only demonstrate the strength of the Bears, but also the ferocity of their opponents.
One of the bright spots throughout the Bears' slump was senior captain Danielle Chagnon's brilliant performance. Chagnon, who entered the game ranked in the top three in almost every single offensive category, bolstered her campaign for NESCAC Player of the Year by batting .333 with three runs, three RBIs, and two stolen bases. Chagnon accounted for 60 percent of the team's offense during the Bears' cold streak.
As the team waves goodbye to the 2006 season with two away doubleheaders, one today against University of Maine-Farmington and one Monday against St. Joseph's, it is important to recognize the team's many accomplishments. As a young team, many of the women simply needed the season to gain valuable experience. With a little more work, these fresh faces will certainly be ready for the 2007 campaign.