The softball team swept conference rival Trinity to extend its winning streak to seven games last weekend. Bowdoin's joy did not last long, however, as the team lost two games to Brandeis on Sunday. Despite the loss, the team rebounded quickly, sweeping the University of Maine-Farmington (UMF) on Tuesday to bring its overall record to 22-10.
"We don't really look at streaks," said Head Coach Ryan Sullivan. "We have done a very good job at taking it one game or series at a time. So while it was disappointing to end the 'streak,' it was equally disappointing to simply lose to a very good team that you want to beat."
In Friday's opener against Trinity, Bowdoin was losing 3-2 until the bottom of the seventh inning, when Toni DaCampo '13 tied the game with a two-out home run.
The most dramatic moment of the weekend may have been when catcher Casey Correa '14—who finished the game a double short of hitting for a cycle—hit a walk-off home run just one inning later to give Bowdoin the victory.
Brandeis was able to slow down Bowdoin's hot bats, a feat accomplished by very few teams this year. During their winning streak, the Polar Bears averaged 8.4 runs per game; against Brandeis, the team collected six runs on just seven hits over the two games.
"A typical softball game may only have a few runs for both teams," said Sullivan. Against Trinity on Saturday, he said the team "took momentum and never looked back. On Sunday we ran into a very good senior pitcher who performed well."
Tricia Thibodeau '13, who pitched one of the games against Brandeis, said the Polar Bears did not bring the same intensity to the field as they did against Trinity.
Thibodeau pitched seven innings and allowed four earned runs on eight hits. The team's ace pitcher, Melissa DellaTorre '14, pitched seven innings and allowed seven earned runs on 12 hits.
"The emotional high from Trinity left us playing flat the day after against Brandeis," Thibodeau said. "They're a strong program who we can beat, but only if we come to play with a high level of intensity. Sunday we didn't do that and it resulted in two losses."
Thibodeau believed that the team struggled against Brandeis due to lack of offensive production.
"I think for our team it's important that we take each at bat one pitch at a time," Thibodeau said. "When we press and put pressure on ourselves to succeed we don't hit as well, but when we relax and focus on making contact we do a great job of putting together hits."
Bowdoin heated up again against UMF, totaling 22 runs on 21 hits in the doubleheader. Correa went 5-for-9, while designated hitter Cielle Collins '15 went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI. The Polar Bears ended game two by turning a triple play in the seventh inning.
"I think we went into the UMF games knowing we could win," said Thibodeau. "It took us a few innings to get the bats going both games, but once we found our stride things worked really well for us offensively."
With the end of the season and playoffs around the corner, Bowdoin is scheduled to play against Colby this weekend.
"Colby is really playing well right now. They have a young team that has progressively gotten better through the year," said Sullivan.