Softball 2024

[triplec2195]

We run rule NCA&T TODAY BEATING THEM 9-1 after scoring 9 runs in the first inning. Apsel pitches 3 innings giving up no runs. Brennan pitches the 4th giving up 1 run and Butler pitches the 5th. We get 9 hits and score 9 all earned.

[triplec2195]

We get a 1-0 lead over NCA&T with a home run from Becca Vaillancourt(7) Apsel near perfect. We score 3 more runs in the 6th inning to lead 4-0 so we bring in Anna Butler to pitch the last inning. Anna apparently comes in lacking control and walks all 3 batters she faces and gets nobody out. Back in comes Apsel unfortunately and gives up a couple of hits allowing NC to score three runs. She gets a pop up and a strikeout(10) to end the game. Definitely nail biting time as we win our 5th straight and get out the brooms today.

[stuball888]

We win today 6-3
Apsel 6 innings no runs and 10 Ks
Addie brings in Pissapia sho gives up 3 runs in 1/3 of an inning before Ogden comes in to get the final two outs but not before giving up a hit
At this point we should just let Julia pitch every inning
the other pitchers are struggling and not pitching at a D1 level

[triplec2195]

I was at this game a decent weather day to see some good softball. Really a pitches duel we were winning 1-0 going into the bottom of the fourth when we got another run. The bottom of the 6th has been a good inning for us as we score 4 more and get some insurance runs. Yeah Stu again we turn the ball over to the bullpen. Pisapia after getting the first out has trouble with control and walks two batters then gives up a hit that scores two. Marisa Ogden pitched fairly well closing this game out giving up 1 hit and getting 1K. Nice games for Wilson who hit a triple down the right field line and went 2-2 and Manto who hit a triple over the center-fielders head who was playing too shallow. Alanna Morse 2-3 and 2 rbi's. Apsel has been practically unhittable as she gets another shutout and lowers her ERA to 1.21. She's now 12-5 and we're in second place in the CAA.

[stuball888]

Apsels ERA in conference games only is 1.06

[triplec2195]

She has been unbelievable. I've seen her pitch now a lot of games and IDK how hard she throws but it's FAST!!

[triplec2195]

So once again Julia Apsel pitching a shutout against S.B. as we go into the final inning, we tack on a run in the bottom of the 6th now leading 2-0. We left some runners on base especially in the first inning. This game was pretty much in the win column as we just missed a double play and need one more out. So a turn of events occur quickly S.B. protests the out at second and somehow the out is reversed so instead of having two out we now only have 1 with 1st and second. The second basemen Nicole Cancel in for DEFENSIVE purposes is charged with the error. I'm not sure what the error was as the runner I believe had already walked off the field?? Long story short after getting the 2nd out on a sac bunt runners now at 2nd and third a righty hitter hits a groundball over the bag at first scoring two runs and tying the game. She goes to second and scores on a single. We're now down 3-2 a total reversal of fortunes and we go down in order to lose 3-2. Apsel loses another heart breaker and a game she deserved to win. Now we have S.B. breathing down our necks in the CAA with six losses as we have 5.

[triplec2195]

Unusual for us when Apsel is pitching but she gives up a 2 run home run in the first inning as we fall behind 2 -0. We get back one in the bottom of the inning on another Vaillancourt home run. Then eventually take the lead 3-2 and go into the 7th winning 3-2. We again lose this game 4-3 in the 7th as they score 2 runs and we go scoreless in the bottom of the 7th. We had the bases loaded in two innings with less then two outs and don't score. We have kids that either strike out or can't hit the ball out of the infield. Yesterday both Iaquinto and Fitzgerald struck out with the bases loaded and less then two out. Today a pop up to second and a weak ground out to third.

Note Sultan(freshman) has 8 rbi's in 15 at bats. We need to find a way to get her in the lineup. She's a first basemen/catcher. Can she play 3rd we need production from 3rd base. Fitzgerald strikes out every 3 at bats. She's a good fielder but doesn't hit much.

[triplec2195]

So following the script yesterday as I attended this game we jump out to a 1-0 lead on a home run by Malinowski. Everything was going OK until the 3rd inning when Apsel starts to get hit and they score 3 runs. Some balls smoked but you can't blame her they rode her into the ground and by the 4th inning when they took her out she lost some velocity on her fastball. Pitching every game may not be the best idea for us we lose 7-1. Apsel gives up 5 runs on 8 hits Pisapia gives up another 2 runs.

I don't want to single out freshman but our 3rd baseman who's a very good fielder with a strong arm struck out twice yesterday. She now has struck out 30x in 89 at bats hitting .157 with 4 rbi's. The coaching staff may need to look at this and also at IAQUINTO who's currently playing 2nd base she's hitting .128(39 at bats) with three rbi's. She replaced Nicole Cancel who was playing 2nd base and is hitting .033 with no RBI'S in 30 at bats. These weak bats are hurting this team. We have better hitters on the bench but really no definitive position for them EG Gabby Sultan and Palacio. Yepez somehow worked herself from a starting role in right field into the "DOG HOUSE"??

[stuball888]

we scored 6 runs in three games
not going to win a lot of games with that output
Also I think we have about 10 home runs
I think 8 are solo shots
would like to see our BA with bases loaded and runners in scoring position

[triplec2195]

We left a lot of runners on base and a lot when he had runners in scoring position. I remember hearing the stats from the broadcaster. After watching the replay of the first game which clearly we should have won a groundball to Iaquinto was misplayed and she was charged with an error. Instead of throwing to second to start the double play she tries to tag out the runner and then throw to 1st base. While the runner going to 2nd was initially called out this was reversed and totally changed the complexion of the game. We should have had 2 outs with a runner on second with a two run lead. Just a bad decision. Apsel pitched really well in the first two games and should have had a better fate. Coach Clasrk took a swipe at the umps in the post presser of the second game where we stranded a lot of runners. She said we needed to plate some of those runners and not leave our fate in the hands of the "UMPIRES". Another controversial call went against us in the 2nd game where Clark went into a TIRADE!! BUMMER Series!

[triplec2195]

So we continue to play OOC games this one yesterday against St John's. They leadoff with a double against Marisa Ogden who came in with a high ERA and an 0-6 record. They then get a single to left and Wilson throws out the runner at home. This set the stage for this game. They only get 4 hits we get 6 but make them count. Some sloppy fielding by St John's left fielder helped us out in this game. We beat them 2-0 behing 5 from Ogden who pitched well and two O/S innings from Pisapia. Great plays at third from Fitzgerald on scorching hard hit balls. St John's leaves 21-22 we go to 14-21. Maybe a confidence builder especially for some pitchers who aren't named Apsel.

[triplec2195]

We play Delaware yesterday the team in first place in the CAA at Delaware. They only have 2 losses and are 16-2 in the CAA 31-8 overall. We are 11-7 in the CAA. Unfortunate that we got swept by S.B. at home in a very close played series except for the 3rd game. Apsel once again is vintage Apsel gives up 4 hits and strikes out 5 shuts out Delaware 2-0. We get 7 hits and play error-less baseball. They make 2 errors. A statement win for us as we clearly show we can play with the best teams in this conference. We have the best pitcher but really don't have any really good pitchers behind her. Kudos in this game for Fitzgerald who after striking out in her first at bat singles home the first run.

[triplec2195]

The second game of this series Delaware flipped the script and beat us 1-0. We originally were credited with 1 hit off the bat of Morse but apparently the official scorer wanted to give the Delaware pitcher a no hitter and changed the hit to a pitcher error. So we get shutout and no hit. Apsel gives up only 4 hits and strikes out 5 in another close loss where she pitches great. We only strike out 3X two by our second baseman Iaquinto who needs to get her bat going. Need production from the bottom of our lineup.

[stuball888]

The third game against Delaware same script as against Stonybrook
Apsel pitching her third game in a row runs out if gas late
We also get shutout again
Unless Apsel pitches a shitout we are going nowhere in the CAA tournament

[triplec2195]

Yes Stu ever so true when Apsel is on the mound there's very little room for error. She has been near perfect this year in a lot of games and gets tagged with the loss because we can't even plate 1 run. We have problems at both 2nd base where the loss of Casey Collins has not been remedied. They started Nicole Cancer there in the beginning of the season a freshman who's a good fielder but had to bench her for Iaquinto who hits a little better but in reality they're both under-performers with their bats and hurt us with runners on base. Fitzgerald also hurts us freshman third baseman offensively but is such a strong D player you can understand her being in the lineup. It's a definite problem for Clark.

[triplec2195]

As we look to make the CAA playoffs we easily beat Hampton yesterday 6-1 behind another gem from Apsel who pitched a no hitter thru 5 innings with 12 K's. Vaillancourt cleared the bases with a single to right center in the 2nd inning scoring 3 runs. Outstanding defensive play made by Cancel at second showing why she's back starting at second base. Need to sweep Hampton and then sweep COC on the road.

[stuball888]

Julia Apsel pitched A perfect game against Hampton
She couldn’t relax as we only scored one run on a sacrifice fly
Imagine what her record would be if she pitched for a team that had a decent offense
She lowered her ERA to 1.49 but her record only stands at 15 -10
I believe six of her losses were by scores of either one to nothing or two to one

[EvanJ]

Congratulations to her. We scored when the first two women reached on errors. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImQ31s878Kk has highlights.

[triplec2195]

She finished what she couldn't do yesterday but came close. What an incredible year for her as we try to ride her to another CAA championship. It will be a rocky road but possible. She leads the CAA in ERA with a 1.49 ERA(overall) 3rd in just CAA stats and 133 K's. Incredible.