Get Herald RSSThe softball team has been on the losing end of several one-run games and have been winless in their last 13 match-ups. But they broke the streak by defeating Dartmouth in the second game of a Sunday doubleheader during Spring Weekend. Last Wednesday, the Bears traveled to URI for a mid-week doubleheader looking for some key victories outside the Ivy League. Unfortunately, Brown fell short, losing 3-2 in game one and 4-2 in game two. This past weekend the Bears hosted the Big Green for a four-game series. The first two games of the doubleheader yielded two more close losses. In the next two games, the Bears lost 7-3 and then picked up a much-needed victory, defeating Dartmouth, 5-3.
In game one of the Wednesday doubleheader against URI, the Rams got on the board first in the bottom of the third inning with three runs off of six singles. Brown tried to get back into the game in the top of the seventh, when Emily Chaddock '11, serving as a pinch hitter, hit a double into center field and started the comeback for the Bears. Brittany Lavine'10 followed with a double of her own to score the Bears' first run of the game. Linnea Anderson '08 walked to push runners to first and second with two outs. Kelsey Wilson '09 then singled to bring Lavine home. But with Anderson on third, Maria Macrina '11 struck out swinging, and the Bears lost, 3-2. Pitcher Michelle Moses '09 fell to 5-7 on the season after dropping the game to the Rams.
Game two was a bit of deja vu for the Bears, as the Rams scored a pair of runs in the third inning. URI's Kelsey Duffy reached first on an error and Darci Borden hit a triple to bring her home. A single would score Borden from third to give URI a two-run lead.
Brown's two out magic continued with a rally in the fourth, when Wilson hit a two-out double and came around to score on an error. But URI would score a run apiece in the fifth and sixth innings to pull away. Wilson hit a two-out home run over the left field fence in the top of the sixth, but Brown would come no closer, and the Bears lost the second game, 4-2. Wilson went 5-for-7 in the doubleheader, leading Brown hitters.
"I have been seeing the ball well the past couple of games," said Wilson. "I am looking for the good pitches and being aggressive. It feels good to snap a bit of a dry spell."
In game one against Dartmouth, Brown jumped out to an early lead. Lavine reached first on an error, stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice fly by Amy Baxter '08. Lavine then came home on an error by the center fielder to give Bruno the early lead. Brown was able to keep Dartmouth scoreless until the top of the third, when the Big Green scored on an RBI double from third baseman Leigha Clarkson.
The Bears would answer in the bottom of the inning with a run of their own to take a 2-1 lead. It was Lavine crossing the plate again for the Bears as she hit a double to get on base before Baxter singled up the middle to bring her home. The Bears held the lead until the top of the sixth, when Dartmouth put up three runs to go up 4-2.
After the third run scored for Dartmouth, Moses was relieved from the game and Kristie Chin '11 came in to finish the game. Chin allowed one run in the sixth, but held Dartmouth without a run the rest of the way. Moses had a solid outing, giving up four runs, three of them unearned, on seven hits, while registering six strikeouts.
A home run by Wilson in the sixth inning sparked new life in the Bears, but that was the only run that would cross the plate in that inning. Wilson hit her second home run in as many days, tying two of her teammates with two on the season. Although the Bears fought hard they came up a bit short, falling to Dartmouth 4-3 in the first game.
The second game of Saturday's doubleheader proved to be a pitching duel, with Chaddock facing off against Dartmouth's Devin Lindsay. Chaddock kept it close for the Bears with some key outs, especially in the third inning, when Brown got out of a bases-loaded jam.
"The drop ball was working well to get the hitters off balance," Chaddock said. "It is tough to pitch in a 0-0 game because any error can end up in a run."
Though working on a shut-out, she was relieved by Jessica Iwasaki '10 in the bottom of the fifth. Jessica would get the Bears out of the fifth with two key strikeouts.
"It was good to see Jessica get back on track," said Head Coach DeeDee Enabenter-Omidiji. "This was a character building experience for her and she did an excellent job."
In the bottom of the sixth the Big Green would score the only run of the game. Clarkson doubled to center, and was replaced by pinch runner Jackie Begay, who would eventually score from third on a single by J.J. Wright.
"I was surprised to see we only had three hits in the game, two of which were by freshman Lindsay Rice," Enabenter-Omidiji said. "This can't happen if we are going to be successful."
In the second doubleheader of the weekend, Brown managed to split with Dartmouth, giving Brown its first Ivy win of the season and snapping a 13-game losing skid. Enabenter-Omidiji has been stressing fundamentals all season, and the Bears seemed to take advantage of their training in the second game.
"Moving people over with sacrifice bunts and putting people in a position to score is crucial," she said. "We need to make better of our opportunities."
In Sunday's first game, Dartmouth came out to an early 2-0 lead with two runs in the top of the second. Chin started the game pitching for the Bears, but with several early base runners, Chaddock came in during the third inning to try to keep Dartmouth at bay.
Chaddock and the defense held the Big Green off in the third inning and then Brown came back with their offense in the fourth to tie the game at two. Andrea Browne '10 and Rice both crossed the plate for the Bears. Then, in the fifth, Brown managed to take a 3-2 lead on a sacrifice fly from Rice. The lead would not last long, though, as Dartmouth's hitting began to heat up in the top of the sixth. Moses came in to relieve Chaddock with the bases loaded, but she could not manage to hold off the Big Green despite a valiant effort. Moses walked in a run then allowed a double, resulting in four runs for Dartmouth. In the top of the seventh the Big Green tacked on an insurance run with a home run off the bat of Clarkson. Brown ended up losing the game, 7-3.
Game two would yield a much different result, as the Bears picked up a crucial victory. The Bears hit the ground running with a three-run first inning to grab the early lead. Lavine, Baxter and Chin all crossed the plate for the Bears in the inning. Dartmouth was able to cut the lead down to one with a two-run second inning.
The score would remain 3-2 until the top of the fifth, when Dartmouth picked up a run. The Big Green's Katie Chifcian singled into center field to score her teammate Christy Autin and tie the game at three. Brown came right back in the fifth and scored two runs of their own to take back the lead 5-3.
Chin took over pitching from Iwasaki in the sixth and allowed only a single hit, sealing the Ivy win for the Bears. Iwasaki had a solid day on the mound, facing 20 batters and allowing only five hits while striking out four. Brown was led by Lavine at the plate; she went 5-for-8 with an RBI. Wilson also had a strong showing, going 2-for-6 while tallying two RBIs.
"We have proved that we can hang with any team and we will eventually break through," Chaddock said.
The Bears are back in action on Wednesday as they travel to Storrs, Conn., to face the University of Connecticut Huskies. The Bears are looking to stay in the win column and build on their first Ivy win.
