After scoring only seven runs off 19 total hits, the Lady Colonels softball team said the lack of runs scored is the main reason why they lost two of their three games in a home series against Southeastern last week.”What we lacked in the Southeastern series was timely hits,” Phyllis Guedry, head softball coach, said. “We put up some decent numbers of hits in all three of the ball games, so I think one of our main problems was hitting when we had runners in scoring position.”

Although the Lady Colonels (3-10, 1-5 SLC) had more hits in the Southeastern series than they did against Texas State on Feb. 28 and 29, senior outfielder Sarah Eads said it is just a matter of putting scores on the scoreboard.

“We had a lot more hits than in the last series, the only thing was we didn’t get the hits at the right time. We are definitely hitting the ball, but it is just a matter of putting it together,” Eads said.

With a week off after the Southeastern series, Guedry said most of the practice time was dedicated toward scoring more runs.

“Late last week in our practices, we had an opportunity to put them into pressure situations,” Guedry said. “We loaded the bases up, and we made each athlete get up there and score runs.”

Eads said she thinks the batting practices will help prepare the team in game time situations.

“We had a couple of practices where we put runners in scoring positions, and we would try to hit them in,” Eads said. “We put pressure on each other and put each other in that situation, so when it comes up to the game we are going to come through.”

The week off also allowed the Lady Colonels to recuperate mentally and physically.

“The past couple of days we have had off, and that has allowed us to recuperate some of the injuries that we have sustained,” Guedry said.

Senior pitcher Dionne Meier said she thinks the more emphasis put on batting runners in will help the team later down the schedule.

“I am glad that it happened early in the season so we can build off that and correct the mistakes so we won’t be in that situation again,” Meier said.

Against Southeastern, the Lady Colonels defense gave up a total nine runs. Although the lack of timely hits has proven to be a concern for the Lady Colonels, Guedry said the team’s defense has been superb.

“This season on defense, we have done a very good job of coming ready to play,” Guedry said. “Our pitching staff has been doing a very good job of keeping opposing batters off balance and allowing us to play some strong defense behind them.”

In game three of the series, Meier (3-4) broke a record with 20 strikeouts, six hits and a run allowed. Guedry said she is pleased with the performance of Meier and junior pitcher Nichole Wagner, who gave up five runs on eight hits in game two of the series.

“We are very pleased with our pitching crew. They have been allowing us to stay in ballgames when our bats haven’t been there. I think they are a special group, and they are doing the best they can.”

Guedry said the Lady Colonels have an interesting schedule in the next week. After traveling to Nacogdoches, Texas, for a weekend series against Stephen F. Austin, the Lady Colonels return home March 16 and 17 to play Texas-San Antonio.

Guedry said the team should fare well due to the number of fighters on the softball team.

“It ought to be an interesting couple of weeks,” Guedry said. “I believe that we have a lot of athletes in this program that are fighters. They are very competitive. They have been fighting in every game we have been in.”

After last season’s Southland Conference runner-up team, Guedry said opponents are more focused on facing the Lady Colonels.

“I think we gained the respect of our conference in the way we finished last year,” Guedry said. “Last year, we weren’t supposed to do well. When people play us now, they are bringing their better game with them and make us have to play better each outing.