Cardinal female athlete of the month: Meaghan Dendy ’10

Dendy has been a vital part of the Wesleyan softball team that currently sits in first place in the NESCAC West Division with a 5-1 conference record (11-11 overall). As the team’s ace pitcher, Dendy, who was a first team all-NESCAC selection a year ago, has a 6-4 record and an impressive 2.40 ERA, good for fourth best in the conference.

Dendy has allowed a meager 21 earned runs in over 61 innings pitched, and opposing batters have hit just .267 against her. To add to her impressive play on the mound, Dendy is also one of the top hitters in the Cardinal lineup and a solid defensive outfielder.

The sophomore is batting .357 this season and leads the team with 11 stolen bases in 11 attempts. Dendy is also third on the team in slugging percentage, with a .500 average, and leads the team with 22 runs scored.

Dendy was especially impressive in back-to-back games last week on Wednesday and Saturday. She had a hit in all three of her at-bats midweek against the Coast Guard Academy, including a grand slam and two runs scored. Wesleyan won the game 12-4.

At the following game on Saturday, against Little Three rival Williams, Dendy started and pitched a complete game, allowing just two earned runs and nine hits in six innings. She also contributed with her bat in the two-spot of the lineup, going 2-4 and scoring three runs while driving in another.

After starting the season 1-9, the softball team has pulled a quick reverse and has gone 9-1 in its past 10. It now sits atop the NESCAC West standings and is in prime position to make a deep playoff run. If the Cardinals want to go far this postseason, Dendy will need to continue her phenomenal play on the mound, in the outfield and at bat.