The softball team traveled to Williams and lost both ends of a doubleheader (9-1 and 8-0) on Sunday. The losses dropped a young Cardinal team to 5-16 (0-4 NESCAC) on the season, while Williams improved to 14-8 (2-0 NESCAC).
First-team All-NESCAC 2005 member Molly Gaebe ’07 got the start on the mound in the first game for the Cards, going just two innings and giving up three earned runs on five hits. The Cards defense also gave up two unearned runs in Gaebe’s two innings of work. Gaebe’s record fell to 2-7, but she leads Cardinal pitchers with an ERA of 3.50. Dayna Yorks ’07 relieved Gaebe, giving up two runs on five hits in three and two thirds innings pitched. Williams ended the game in the bottom of the sixth inning by virtue of holding an eight run lead with five innings completed.
Williams’ starting pitcher Margaret Ryan held the Cardinal bats in check, scattering four hits and striking out five over five innings of work. Cards’ third baseman Marcia Whitehead ’08 scored the team’s only run of the game in the top of the sixth inning, reaching on an error and then scoring on a passed ball. Whitehead went 1-for-3 at the plate, moving her average to .353 on the season and remaining second on the team in that category. Centerfielder Becca Feiden ’08 led the team with two hits in the game, improving her average to .284.
The Cardinals again ran into great Williams’ pitching in the second game. Williams starting pitcher Carla Hard allowed only one hit in five innings pitched, striking out seven along the way. Hard was relieved by Morgan Simpson, who pitched a perfect sixth inning. The Cards sent Karla Hargrave ’08 to the mound and she gave up six earned runs in four and two thirds innings pitched. Hargrave did strike out five, but the Williams’ bats again capitalized on two Cardinal fielding errors, scoring four unearned runs in the game. With the loss, Hargrave’s record dropped to 1-7 on the year with an ERA of 4.41. Gaebe earned the Cards’ only hit of the game in just two at bats, raising her team leading batting average to .400.
For a young Cardinal team with seven freshmen on the roster and just three seniors, the Williams games provided great experience against a very talented opponent.
“We were really excited to play Williams going into the game, and we did a lot of things well, but our mistakes hurt us,” Feiden said. “Williams hit the ball really well and capitalized on our errors. We will take a lot from these games and we have a full week without games to practice and prepare for next weekend. We’re excited to take on Middlebury next weekend.”
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