Ephs split pair of one-run games
ORANGE, CA. -- The Williams College softball team played a pair of nailbiters Saturday, winning one and losing the other. The Ephs now stand at 6-4 heading into an off day Sunday.
The Ephs are back in action Monday when they take on Claremont Mudd Scripps and Pomona Pitzer at Pomona Pitzer at 3:30 and 5:30 PST.
In Saturday's first game, Williams edged Elmhurst (Ill.) in eight innings, 7-6. After falling behind in the top of the eighth, the Ephs rallied for two runs in the bottom to win. Mary Gelber (single) and Katie Blankshain (fielder's choice) were on first and second with two outs when Joey Lye hit a screaming line drive the shortstop could not handle, scoring a run. Back to back walks to Becky Sansone and Katie Powers forced home the winning run, with Powers getting the RBI.
Lye, Sansone and Powers each went 2 for 4 for Williams, and Libby Copeland-Halperin hit a solo home run in the win.
Morgan Simpson got the start and lasted 5 2/3 innings, giving up six hits and three runs, all earned, while walking one and striking out one. Emily Fowler-Cornfeld came on and picked up the win despite allowing three unearned runs on three hits over 2 1/3 innings.
"It was an ugly, ugly game," Ephs head coach Kris Herman said. "I was not happy with our defensive performance and our baserunning was not good. We just didn't have a good game."
The Ephs played better in the nightcap against Cal State San Marcos, but did not get the victory as Cal State pushed across the winning run in the top of the seventh inning.
Twice, Williams rallied from one-run deficits to tie the game. In the first, Lye led off with a bunt single and came around to score. In the fourth, Powers smacked a solo home run that made it 2-2.
Williams had runners on second with one out in the fifth and sixth but could not score, and a runner on first with one out in the seventh before falling.
Lye and Powers each went 2 for 3 for Williams.
Margaret Ryan got the start and pitched 2 1/3 innings for the Ephs, giving up two hits and one run, earned, while walking two and fanning one. First-year Caitlyn Cain came on and pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing six hits and two runs, both earned, while not walking a batter and fanning one. Cain took the loss.
"We had some good at-bats, we had our chances, but we just couldn't come up with that clutch hit when we needed it," Herman said. "We've been inconsistent defensively, but when we play well on defense, we're very good."
