The Bowdoin Softball Team has come back to earth. After a hot start and a great Spring Break trip, Bowdoin has returned to perform disappointingly in conference play. The team has compiled a 6-4 record since returning from Florida, but is only 2-4 against NESCAC teams. Bowdoin next plays a doubleheader against Plymouth State on Sunday, starting at 1:00 p.m.
Bowdoin returned from its break to an eight-game stretch including very difficult conference play. The team's schedule included doubleheaders against East Division foes Trinity, Colby, and Tufts, as well as a doubleheader against West Division stalwart Wesleyan. Unfortunately, Bowdoin was not able to gain an edge on its conference foes, finishing the run with a 4-4 record.
Bowdoin next traveled to Trinity take on the Bantams in a doubleheader. Emily Nelson '07 pitched a complete game, yielding only three hits in the victory. Despite seven walks, Nelson only allowed one Bantam to cross the plate. Brittany Ogden '08 and Danielle Chagnon '06 each knocked in a run to give Bowdoin the win. Although Caitlin Polistena '07 pitched an outstanding game, giving up only two earned runs in the loss, Bowdoin fell short in the second game, losing 3-2.
Next, Bowdoin played host to Wesleyan. Nelson dominated Wesleyan in the first game, pitching a two-hit, six-strikeout gem, and Bowdoin won, 3-0. In the second game, the Polar Bear bats came alive, getting 15 hits, as Bowdoin outslugged Wesleyan, 7-5. Chagnon knocked in three runs in addition to her three hits. Designated hitter Megan Rodgers '06 added two hits and two RBIs in the win. Unfortunately, because Wesleyan plays in the West Division of the NESCAC, these games do not count towards Bowdoin's conference record.
The Polar Bears next traveled to Waterville to wrestle with another conference opponent. The Bears overcame an early two-run deficit to turn the contest in a blowout, winning 10-4. Kate Chin '08 and Chagnon each drove in three runs while left fielder Rachael Gordon '05 collected three hits in the win. Bowdoin could not keep the offensive pressure on Colby as the Mules edged Bowdoin in the second game, behind a complete-game effort from Amanda Roehn.
Tufts, the only NESCAC team to place nationally in the top-25, proved too much for the Polar Bears. The 24th-ranked team in the country entered with a 17-5 record and lived up to the hype. They crushed Bowdoin, winning the first game 12-3 and the second 11-2 to cap a doubleheader sweep. Key to the Tufts wins were complete game pitching performances by Erica Bailey and Sarah Conroy. With four strikeouts in the first game, Nelson became Bowdoin's all-time leader in strikeouts.
Sandwiching this difficult conference stretch were home wins against Suffolk and UMaine-Farmington. Chagnon, Rodgers and Gordon led the Bowdoin offense once again, contributing an RBI each in a 4-2 win over UMaine-Farmington. Against Suffolk, Nelson dominated again, pitching a one-hit, 14 strikeout game.
Bowdoin can return to .500 in conference play on Tuesday, as the team plays a doubleheader against Bates at home, starting at 3:30 p.m. Bates has not yet won a game in conference play this season and places last in the East Division with a 0-2 NESCAC record. A sweep of Bates would allow Bowdoin to return to 4-4 in the conference, which would place the team in a tie with Colby and Trinity for second.
The doubleheader is your last chance to see the Polar Bears in regular season action this year at home. Come out and cheer the softball team to victory against the Bobcats in this important NESCAC match-up!