FORT MYERS, Fla. – On the third day of the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic, Mount Mary University (2-4) dropped both of their games Monday March 9th. The first contest was a 20-7 victory for Saint Joseph's College (3-1), and the second was an 8-0 win for Bridgewater State University (4-2).
Probably one of most difficult doubleheaders in MMU history, the Blue Angels knew before they hit the field that they would have their hands full Monday. Quite the pair of teams to play as last season, Bridgewater State University defeated Saint Joseph's College in the second round of the NCAA Softball Tournament. SJC is currently on a four year streak of making the NCAA Tourney, while Bridgewater State University has made the dance six out of their last 10 seasons.
In the first game, the Blue Angels got behind early, but did not give in. The resolve of the Blue Angels shined through as they battled back. Down 11-0, MMU went into attack mode. After McKenzie Harnack (Fr./Stoughton, Wis.) hustled out a bobbled throw at first base, Molly Peck (Fr./Milwaukee, Wis.) and Nicole Weggen (Jr./Menomonee Falls, Wis.) both ripped hard singles to the outfield. With the bases juiced, Katie Edwards (Sr./Mackinaw, Ill.) drilled a shot deep to right center to bring in the first two runs of the game for the Blue Angels.
MMU added five more runs as they continued to fight, but the unrelenting Monks tacked on nine more runs to end the contest 20-7 in five innings.
Then the Blue Angels turned their attention toward Bridgewater State University. After Harnack reached in the first inning on a leadoff walk, MMU could not get another base runner for the rest of the game. The Bears slowly added runs to make it 5-0 going into the top of the fifth. That was when Payton Hintz (Fr.Almond, Wis.) laced a frozen rope ticketed to left field, but was snatched out of the air on a great defensive stab by BSU third basemen Tara McCann. As the saying goes "you got to hit em where they ain't," right after that McCann stole another base hit away Ashley Contreras (Fr./College Station, Texas) who hit a rocket to the outstretched third basemen. Once McCann battled the sun to take the third out in foul teritory, the heartbroken Blue Angels ended the inning shaking their heads and smiling at the great defensive play by their opponent.
Following that tough inning, BSU took advantage of three MMU errors and cashed in three unearned runs to finish the game 8-0 in the fifth.
"I was happy with the way they continued to play hard throughout," coach Tim Edwards went on "…playing two teams that made it into the [NCAA] tournament was tough, but our team did not give in. Even down a bunch, they kept at it and attacked."
After a day off on Tuesday, the Blue Angels will lace them up against Kenyon College Wednesday March 11th at 10:00 am CST. Their doubleheader will conclude with a matchup against Emmanuel College (Mass.) at 12:00 pm at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic.
