Clermont, FL - Through ten games of the 2022 season, Mount Mary has played a very competitive brand of softball. Unfortunately, the Blue Angels have lost 3 of their last 4 games by only one run, a trend they hope to reverse for the remainder of their Florida trip and the season.
Since arriving in the Sunshine State, the Mount Mary softball team has competed in three games. While the results have not gone the Blue Angels' way, two of the losses came by just a run. Head Coach Perry Clark believes there are solutions to turning things around in close games, "We have left too many runners on base in scoring position with one out or less, we need to put the ball in play and drive in those runs."
This was the case in Mt. Mary's first game in Clermont against Mitchell College from Connecticut, on Sunday, March 6th. The two teams combined for only 5 hits in a 2-1 win for Mitchell. The Blue Angels left 5 on base, which turned out to be the difference in the game. Brianna Lupa was once again stellar in the pitching circle, allowing only 3 hits in six innings of work, and walking only one Mitchell batter.
Monday March 7th saw Mount Mary take on Penn State University- Dubois, in what would be the first of two games on the day for the Blue Angels. The Blue Angel bats showed much more life, as the game was tied 4-4 heading to the 5th inning. However, the defensive problems for MMU reappeared, and that combined with PSU-Dubois's timely hitting contributed to 13 runs surrendered by Mount Mary in the final two innings. What was a close contest ended up being lopsided in the favor of Penn State Dubois. Mount Mary committed 8 errors in the game, contributing to 8 unearned runs. Clark elaborated, "We have to clean up our defensive play and eliminate the simple mistakes." Marissa Heraly and Alyssa Becker were the offensive standouts for Mount Mary in the game, each batting in two runs respectively.
The Blue Angels completed Monday's play with a thrilling contest against the Beavers of Bluffton University. The game was knotted at 2 when Bluffton scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning. As they have multiple times already this season, the Blue Angels staged a fighting comeback, scoring 3 in the top of the 6th to tie the game at 5. When Bluffton answered with a single run in their half of the sixth, the Angels again tied the game with a run in the top of the 7th. Unfortunately for Mount Mary, the Beavers would answer one final time with a run in the bottom of the 7th for the walk off win.
For Mount Mary, Aislinn Strusz stayed hot at the plate, with 2 hits and 2 runs batted in. Lily Fay also came through with a clutch pinch hit rbi single for the Blue Angels.
Mount Mary (3-7) will look to rebound when they resume play in Florida on Wednesday, March 9th. Clark sees plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the team getting back in the win column, "Even though it seems we are struggling and making mistakes, everything is correctable and I am confident we can turn it around."
Mt. Mary is scheduled for two games on the 9th, both against East Coast teams, Plymouth State & the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth. Live stats will be available on mtmaryathletics.com
