CAPE CORAL, Fla. – The Mount Mary University softball team put forth one of its best efforts of the season against New Jersey City University Wednesday afternoon, but the Blue Angels could not string together timely hitting as they fell to the Gothic Knights 8-0 in six innings.
The Angels threatened in the top of the first inning as senior Katie Wolk (Oshkosh, Wis.) sent a one-out single to right center. After a walk issued to junior Katie Edwards (Mackinaw, Ill.), freshman Phoenix Hulsey (Wauwatosa, Wis.) poked a shot over the second baseman's head to load up the bases but an ensuing strikeout ended the threat.
It was a 0-0 game until Jersey City pushed three runs across in the bottom of the third inning on four hits. They would add another three in the fourth on four more hits to all but put the game out of reach.
Despite earning a season-high eight walks in the game, Mount Mary left a season-high nine runners on base against NJCU, four of which in scoring position.
While having base runners on consistently throughout the game, only Wolk and Hulsey recorded an official hit in the game—both coming in that first inning.
MMU also dropped its ensuing game against Olivet College, 18-2, to fall to 0-10 overall on the year.
After spotting Olivet 18 runs over the first three innings, Mount Mary used a Wolk walk and an Edwards single to put runners at the corners. A Hulsey walk loaded the bases when sophomore Tracy Boutell (Brown Deer, Wis.) laced one to center field, scoring Wolk. Freshman Harmony French (Amherst, Wis.) hit into a fielder's choice that kept Edwards from scoring, but a double-play throw attempt to first was off target, allowing Hulsey to round third. The throw home chased Hulsey back, but the "pickle" was short as the toss to the third baseman was also off target, allowing the freshman to retract and score the second MMU run of the game.
Edwards took both losing decisions for Mount Mary, tallying her sixth game in the circle in three days against Olivet.
Mount Mary will close out its Florida trip Thursday with another double-header. First, the Angels will take on SUNY-Oneonta (N.Y.) at 1 p.m. before battling Drew University (N.J.) at 3 p.m. The Red Dragons of Oneonta State will be making their Gene Cusic Classic debut, while the Rangers are 5-1 down in Florida.
