Softball prepares for a stretch that includes 11 games in two weeks

By Mark Rudi
Western Herald

A tough two-week stretch, a stretch that includes 11 games, will mentally and physically challenge the Western Michigan University softball team.
The Broncos (2-2) will participate in the University of Central Florida Invitational this weekend in Orlando, Fla. WMU will face Florida A&M University and Tennessee State University Friday, Villanova University and Stony Brook University on Saturday and will then battle University of Maine Sunday.

“We just need to make sure we’re playing mentally strong because we have a long stretch where we’re playing games after games after practice,” senior second baseman Amanda McBride said. “It can be strenuous with the hot weather and stuff. We just need to make sure we’re working hard.”

Hard work and team unity are two aspects head coach Kathy Leitke is looking to improve upon during the next two weeks.

“We’re not a team yet, but I think we really got some ingredients,” Leitke said. “I really do. We’re just filling in the slow mix of putting them all together.”

Before the season started, Leitke said she was looking for more offense from the squad and thought they played very well in the 4-2 loss to Penn State University Feb. 6 in Tempe, Ariz.

“I thought it was unfortunate we let that Penn State game slip away because we did come out offensively. We threatened, we had runners on,” Leitke said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t get the key hit, because I really thought we outplayed Penn State. We had one bad inning defensively that they scored in.”

The Brown and Gold allowed four runs on four hits in the second inning against the Nittany Lions and left eight runners on base, including two in the seventh.
The Broncos only managed one run in each of their next two games, but the bats exploded in a 10-1 victory over UCF Feb. 7.

“That was exciting to come back the next day and put something together,” Leitke said on the UCF game. “Especially against a team who beat Oklahoma State, who [mercy] run ruled us, so that was going to be a tough one and for us to really come alive and put some offense together, that was exciting.”

McBride has really come alive this season by starting 2009 with a .444 batting average and a .583 on base percentage. McBride has four hits, walked three times and has only struck out once in the first four games.
McBride was also named Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week on Feb. 9.

“I just worked out and had a goal set before we went down there,” McBride said. “It [winning Player of the Week] was a great. I was excited that our team went 2-2, but it was a good personal goal that I had. I wasn’t expecting it.”

“I just really want McBride to stay confident and consistent offensively,” Leitke said. “That’s what really has been a challenge for her in her career, but she’s starting her senior season out, I thought, very, very well and something I hope she can continue to contribute in.”

Freshman pitcher/first baseman Meredith Whitney exploded onto the scene as well winning MAC West Pitcher of the Week on Feb 9.
Whitney (1-1) starts the season with a 1.62 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 13 innings of work and opponents are only hitting .204 against her.

“It was amazing. It was good to come out, because we were inside, so it was fun to be outside a lot,” Whitney said about her first games as a college player. “It was actually back home, so that was fun.”

Whitney is a native of Scottsdale, Ariz., which is not far from Tempe, where the Broncos first four games were played.

“She [Whitney] did a real nice job. She played extremely well in her hometown both offensively and defensively,” Leitke said. “She sparked us offensively in a couple different games and I thought did a really nice job in the circle for opening weekend.”

Whitney is batting .364 with two home runs and five RBIs, as well as a .909 slugging percentage.
Florida A&M (3-4) comes into this weekend on a three-game losing skid and has struggled to find offense in those games. The Rattlers have been shutout in two of their last three games, even though they scored 17 runs in their first two contests.
WMU is 1-0 in the all-time series against FAMU.
The nightcap Friday will really test Bronco pitching. Tennessee State (6-1) has scored 53 runs in their first seven games and recorded shutouts in each of their first three games.
Their only loss was to No. 16 University of Georgia, 8-0 on Feb. 20.

“That’s what the early tournament are all about,” Leitke said. “We want to play the good teams and we’re hopefully we’re ready to battle them.”

Leitke added she is well aware of the Tigers’ offense and has not named a starter for that game yet.
The Tigers have four players who are hitting .400 or better and is led by sophomore pitcher Caitlin Eaton. Eaton (4-0) pitched a perfect game in the Tigers’ 8-0 win over Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis on Feb. 20 and won Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week.
Eaton has a 2.58 ERA with 22 strikeouts and opponents are only hitting .217 against her. WMU is 1-0 all-time against Tennessee State.
Villanova (3-2) started their season off very well, winning their first three games. However, the Wildcats come into this weekend on a two-game losing streak.
Villanova doesn’t have a strong offense as they’re only hitting .248 as a team, but they possess a strong pitching staff.

The Wildcats, as a team, have a  2.83 ERA with freshman Molly Manning (1-0) carrying a 1.35 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 10.1 innings of work. WMU is 0-2 all-time against Villanova.
Stony Brook and the Broncos will meet for the first time ever on Saturday, and for the Seahawks, this weekend will be their first action of the season. Stony Brook was picked to win the America East Conference Championship.

Maine (4-5) has had an up-and-down season so far. The Black Bears lost four out of their first five games, including a tough 5-2 loss to Troy University in extra innings, but have turned it around as of late winning three out of their last four. Maine comes into this weekend off a 7-3 loss to Appalachian State University last Sunday.

Maine’s strength is their pitching as they have two pitchers with an ERA under 2.00, but the offense isstruggling, hitting only .240 as a team. WMU is 7-2 all-time against the Black Bears.
Before coming back to Kalamazoo, the Broncos will face Loyola University-Chicago in Orlando on Wednesday, followed by participating in the Under Armour Invitational March 6, 8 and 8 in Clearwater, Fla.

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Posted by HeraldAdmin on Feb 26 2009. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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