MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Mount Mary College softball team hit the road for its longest trip of the year, a season-opening tournament hosted by Finlandia University at Northern Michigan University's Superior Dome, this past weekend. The Blue Angels played hard, but dropped all games of a four-game series against host Finlandia, Lakeland, Edgewood and Marian.
"I am pleased with the on-field leadership of our experienced players," first-year Blue Angels head coach Melinda Wallace said. "Our offense plated some runs, so that is very encouraging. We know where we have to go from here."
Mount Mary played some stellar defense against the host Lions to open the tournament Friday morning, but the bats were silent in an 8-0 loss. Finlandia's junior hurler Alyson Herman tallied nine strikeouts in the win, as the Blue Angels summoned just one hit in their 2013 debut. Sophomore pitcher Jess Kelly (Burbank, Ill.) blasted a ground-rule double to right center to lead off the second inning, and sophomore catcher Katie Edwards (Mackinaw, Ill.) moved her to third on a sac bunt. Yet Kelly would be stranded on third as Mount Mary's only base-runner of the five-inning game.
The Blue Angels won the coin flip and was selected as the home team for their second outing of the day against Lakeland and the Muskies' leadoff batter started the game off with a deep homer to left. Three more runs would score before Mount Mary could respond with a solid inning of its own. Senior outfielder Emily Barker (Oconomowoc, Wis.) pasted a leadoff triple of her own in MMC's half of the inning and was sacrificed home with a near-dinger from junior shortstop Katie Wolk (Oshkosh, Wis.). Junior infielder Nicole Ordway (Republic, Wash.) reached on an error, Kelly was hit by a pitch and Edwards knocked out a single to load the bases with one out. Unfortunately, the rest of the batting order couldn't push anyone across in the rest of the inning, nor the rest of the game as Mount Mary failed to have a base-runner past the second inning for the second straight game. Barker had a nice afternoon at the plate against Lakeland, going 2-for-3 with a triple and a run scored.
Mount Mary returned to the Superior Dome Saturday, and after a long delay finally took to the field against Edgewood College. After word that Kelly would not be available to pitch Saturday, Coach Wallace was forced to do some reshuffling and put Edwards in the circle. The Eagles took advantage early, scoring three runs on two hits and an error to take the quick lead. But for the second straight game, Barker led the Blue Angels off with a single that was misplayed by the Edgewood right fielder and cruised into third base. Wolk again hit a deep fly to left to sacrifice Barker home for the first run of the game, and Edwards and senior infielder Ashley Leverenz (Mauston, Wis.) each found a hit in the opening frame, but that was essentially all Mount Mary could muster, falling 14-1 after five.
The second game on Saturday and fourth game overall pitted Mount Mary taking on Marian. The Sabers pounced early and often, throttling the Blue Angels 32-2. Despite the lopsided defeat, Ordway got her offense on track with a no-doubter over the centerfield fence to score Barker, doubling the run total through the first three games combined. Edwards also picked up a hit in the third inning, right after Ordway sent one up the middle. Yet consecutive strikeouts ended any further scoring threat.
The Blue Angels will have nearly a month hiatus before returning to action at Hart Park as they host Presentation College on Sunday, March 17. Should the March weather permit, Mount Mary will also take on Rockford College the following Tuesday at Hart Park.
