Softball splits opening conference doubleheader

The Waynesburg University softball team (7-11, 1-1) was a half-inning away from being swept in Monday’s doubleheader against Thiel (8-6, 1-1), but the bats came alive for the Yellow Jackets in the seventh inning of game two.
After senior left fielder Theresa Soknich reached base on a fielder’s choice, junior infielders Jessica Dorazio and Demi Lewin reached base on fielding errors. The two errors set the table for senior outfielder Emily Sorton. With one out in the inning, Sorton lined a two-run single up the middle to tie the game at three.
”I was very focused,” said Sorton. “When I bat, I just look at the ball. I felt very good about my at-bat. I knew I was going to get a hit. It felt awesome.”
After freshman infielder Cassie Hudson was retired on strikes, senior pitcher Haley Payne stepped up to the plate.
During the middle of Payne’s at-bat, Lewin was able to score the game-winning run via a wild pitch by Thiel’s Brianna Flynn. Lewin had to make a split-second decision in order to score Waynesburg’s clinching run.
”Well, I saw it go by right there at the end,” said Lewin. I was like ‘go for it’. I didn’t think it was going to take that crazy of a hop. It was a closer call than I thought it would be, but I’m glad I made it in there straight.”
Waynesburg head coach Richele Hall was pleased with her team’s perseverance.
”It was just really exciting. I’m just really proud that they didn’t give up. I’m excited that they keep pushing,” said Hall. “Obviously, you don’t want to be behind in the bottom of the seventh, but when you have a team like this that works really hard, and they want to win – that’s the biggest thing.”
Waynesburg had trouble figuring out Flynn for the first six innings of the game as her fastball was effective and had good control.
Hall emphasized that her team made changes throughout the game to be able to succeed at the plate.
”I thought we didn’t work ahead with her,” said Hall. “I thought we waited a little bit. We made some adjustments throughout the game [by] trying to not get behind in the count. We don’t want to face her pitches. We want to face our pitches.”
It wasn’t that Waynesburg couldn’t make solid contact with the ball; rather, the Yellow Jacket hitters were producing solid hits right to Thiel infielders.
”It’s always frustrating for the girls when they hit the ball hard, but its right at people,” said Hall. “So I just try to keep them motivated. They just need to keep that up that mentality if they are hitting the ball hard, then it [the ball] is are going to fall sometime.”
In the first game, the Jackets fell 5-4. Each team committed a costly error in the first three innings to allow the other team to score.
Waynesburg junior pitcher Stephanie Kotomski got the start and kept Waynesburg in the game, allowing two earned runs in five and two-thirds innings pitched.
”[Kotomski] threw really well,” said Hall. “Unfortunately, a couple errors haunted us there, and we couldn’t get enough runs. But once again, we were fighting until the last pitch.”
Kotomski was pulled after giving up her third run with two outs in the sixth. She left a runner on first base. Junior reliever Cameron Grimes allowed the inherited run to score, along with one of her own.
”I think they [Thiel] were starting to catch up on her speed, and that’s one of the reasons I took her out,” said Hall. “Unfortunately, they scored a couple of runs because there were runners on. But they were just timing her too much and hitting the ball real hard.”
The Jackets scored three times in the bottom half of the sixth, only to fall by a run at the end of the regulation seven innings.
The two games of this doubleheader were the first that Hall has coached as a member of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference. What made these games extra special for Hall was that she was opposing a friend in Thiel’s head coach Amy Schafer.
”I’ve known her for years,” said Hall. “She’s been one of my mentors for a little bit now. She’s one of my good friends just through softball, really. It’s a small world.”
After taking on the defending PAC champion Thomas More Saints in Crestview Hills, Kentucky, yesterday, the Yellow Jackets are back in action at home today to face the Golden Tornadoes of Geneva in a doubleheader. That doubleheader was originally scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m.