Peoria, IL- The Mount Mary softball team began their second trip to the Collegiate Slugger Series in Peoria with an 18-1 rout of local rival Alverno College. However, some of the Midwest's best teams proved to be tough competition for the Blue Angels, as they dropped the next 3 contests and finished with a 1-3 record over the two day trip.
The Blue Angel softball team headed back to Peoria, hoping to continue the momentum from winning 2 of their first 3 games of the season. All signs looked positive as the Blue Angels scored 10 runs in the top of the first inning and cruised to an 18-1 win over Alverno. Brianna Lupa struck out 7 in 3 innings of work in the circle. Offensively, Aislinn Strusz had 3 hits and 4 runs batted in, beginning what would be an outstanding trip for her. Sam Allen also contributed 4 runs batted in, as a team, Mount Mary had 14 hits in the offensive onslaught.
Wisconsin Stevens Point proved to be a more formidable opponent in Thursday's second game. The Pointers pounded out 17 hits and lead Mount Mary 8-0 at one point. The Blue Angels showed great fight, staging a comeback that plated 5 runs in the last two innings. The comeback fell short and Mount Mary fell to the Pointers by a score of 9-5. Aislinn Strusz stayed red hot with another 3 hits in the Thursday nightcap.
The Blue Angel defense showed it first cracks of the season, Mount Mary committed four errors, a large factor in the game. Head Coach Perry Clark elaborated on the two Thursday games, "I was pleased with how we jumped out early and took care of business against Alverno. Against Stevens Point, the errors were a big part of the difference. We could have played them much closer had we played better defense."
Friday morning saw the Blue Angels face a second consecutive opponent from the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, in the Pioneers of the University of Wisconsin Platteville. Mary DeFore took the ball for the Blue Angels and went the distance. Platteville scored early, the Blue Angels were unable to generate any offense and Platteville held off Mount Mary by a score of 7-0. In spite of taking the loss, DeFore did not walk a batter throughout her seven innings of work.
The final game of the trip pitted Mount Mary against another Blue opponent, the Blue Jays of Elmhurst University. There were reasons for optimism early in the contest, as Mount Mary struck first and took a 3-0 lead, Aislinn Strusz continued to be an offensive stalwart for Mount Mary as her 2 run single in the first was the big blow in MMU taking the lead.
Unfortunately for Mount Mary, Elmhurst gradually chipped away at the lead and eventually took a 4-3 advantage in the bottom the 6th. Mount Mary looked primed to tie the contest, bringing the equalizing run to 3rd base with one out in the top of the 7th. Unfortunately for MMU, Elmhurst worked out of the jam and held on for the one run win.
Brianna Lupa threw another 6 innings without a walk, Strusz contributed another 3 hits in the one run loss. The Blue Angel defense again was charged with 4 errors, a trend that Perry Clark believes can be changed with additional game experience, "what you saw on Friday was the challenge of playing several games in a short amount of time, the challenge is to always be ready and prepared mentally and I think we will do better throughout the season in that area."
The trend of many games in a short amount of time will continue this week, as Mount Mary heads to Clermont, Florida for the Spring Games series. Between March 6th and March 12th, MMU will play 10 contests against opponents from all over the country.
The Blue Angels (3-4), will begin the spring games with a game against Mitchell University, Sunday March 6th at 11:15 Central time. Live stats for all games will be available at mtmaryathletics.com
