In three games this weekend, the Lady Colonels’ softball teams were swept on the road against Sam Houston.
Despite being swept, the Lady Colonels (9-15, 0-9 SLC) lost every game by one point to Sam Houston.
“We have been in a lot of these ballgames in the past couple of weeks. We haven’t had an opportunity to catch the breaks. Our team has been putting up some strong fights and taking teams to the final innings,” Phyllis Guedry, head softball coach, said.
Although the results have not been pleasing, Guedry believes the losses will turn to wins in the future.
“We have a group of athletes that have a will to win, and we want them to be successful. I think it has been a little difficult on them, but I believe this is going to help our team become stronger. This is how champions are made,” Guedry said.
In the first game, freshman Dionne Meier picked up the loss as the Colonels fell 4-3 to Sam Houston.
In an inning and a half, Meier struck out two and gave up one hit and a run. Sophomore Nichole Wagner came on in relief and pitched one strikeout with six hits and three runs in six innings.
Although the Lady Colonels batting rotation out-hit Sam Houston 9-7, they had three errors on the evening.
Freshman outfielder Teri Clouatre went two for two at the plate. Wagner went two for four and freshman outfielder Haley Fagin went one for two.
Senior pitcher Duffi Matherne hit a homerun in the seventh inning. She went one for two for the game.
In the second game, the Lady Colonels managed only one run in a 2-1 loss to Sam Houston.
Meier took the loss after pitching six innings and giving up four hits and two runs for the game.
Wagner and freshman Lindsey Coleman were the only Lady Colonels able to produce hits against Sam Houston pitcher Rachel Atzenhoffer.
Freshman catcher Kacie Braud scored the Lady Colonels only run at the top of the seventh inning.
In the final game, the Lady Colonels could not avoid the series sweep to Sam Houston with a 6-5 loss.
Wagner picked up the loss after pitching five innings. She gave up six hits and four runs. Meier pitched one inning and gave up two hits and runs.
Although Sam Houston committed one error, they out-hit the Lady Colonels 8-6 for the contest.
Clouatre led the Lady Colonels by going two for three from the plate. Junior catcher Sarah Eads went one for three, Yelverton went one for four and junior outfielder Stephanie Sasser went one for three.
With the score tied 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh, Sam Houston batter Sarah Gatlin hit the game winning homerun.
Guedry said the Colonels are focused going into this weekend’s Buzz Classic Tournament at Georgia Tech University.
“We are putting ourselves in pressure situations in practice. We think by doing that, it will make us more prepared in our games. We are also going back to fundamentals and making sure we are hitting right and attacking the ball defensively,” Guedry said.
After the Buzz Classic, the Lady Colonels return home against Southland Conference foe Louisiana-Monroe March 29 and 30.
“I was looking at the schedule and I told one of my assistants that I couldn’t believe we are down to the bottom half already. I believe the teams in the Southland Conference could play with anybody in the country,” Guedry said.
“I think it is going to be a challenge, but I think we could compete with anyone in the conference.”