The softball team ended its season on a strong note with a 1-0 victory over Bates on Sunday. The game was the last of the season for both teams, who were both eliminated prior to the NESCAC postseason tournament. The Polar Bears just missed the cutoff for the tournament, which features two teams from the East and West division. No. 1 Tufts (1-2 against Bowdoin) will face No. 2 Trinity in the East NESCAC playoffs. The Polar Bears finished third with a record of 22-18 (8-4 NESCAC).
After numerous rain delays, the team finally got to play the last of the three-game series against Bates on Sunday afternoon.
"Even though we knew that we were not headed to the postseason, we went into our last game like we do every game: ready to leave it all out on the field," said senior captain Molly Nestor.
The Polar Bears did just that as first year pitcher Melissa DellaTorre threw a three-hitter while striking out six batters to lead the team to a 1-0 victory. The team's only run came in the second inning as Gen Barlow '13 singled and stole second. She was brought home off a single from first year Casey Correa who had two of the team's four hits in the victory.
Another strong performance by DellaTorre capped her impressive rookie campaign and earned her NESCAC Pitcher of the Week recognition for the second time this season. DellaTorre did not allow a run over 22.2 innings in five appearances last week.
Last Friday the Polar Bears split a doubleheader at Brandeis in a non-conference match up. The team won 4-0, thanks to DellaTorre's shutout in the opening game.
Sophomore Toni DaCampo got things going on the offensive end in the third inning as she launched her second home run of the season, scoring three runs for the Polar Bears. Caroline Dewar '12 added an RBI single in the fourth.
In the second game a 3-3 deadlock was broken in the fifth after the Judges scored four runs that gave them an 8-3 lead. The Polar Bears fought back with a two-run double from DaCampo and a sacrifice fly by Barlow that cut the lead to 8-7 with two outs. The team managed to get runners on second and third, but could not score before the final out.
After just missing the cutoff for the postseason tournament, the Polar Bears are hungry for an appearance next season.
"We have a lot of work to do before next spring and losing two such significant players will be tough to overcome," said Dewar. "But I'm confident in the younger girls and the freshmen coming in to fill the voids that will be left behind. Clearly we want to be more competitive next year and return to NESCACs. That will only happen if we continue to work hard in the offseason."
Despite not making the tournament this year, the team had many impressive victories this season, including a first-ever series win over conference rival Tufts.
"That will go down as one of my favorite moments of my four years playing Bowdoin softball," said Nestor.
Victories over Tufts, as well as strong showings against national powerhouses Eastern Connecticut and Luther early in the season, leave the team hopeful for next year.
"Beating Tufts 2-1 for the first time ever was a huge accomplishment and even though we didn't make NESCACs it shows that we can play with, and beat, the best teams in the league," said Dewar.