Softball: Eastern on five-game losing streak, eighth place in conference
Seth Lamar
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: Sports
When the 2009 season began, head coach Jane Worthington knew her young team would have its fair share of challenges.
What the coach didn't know was in store for the Colonels would be their Achilles' heel. The Colonels now stand at 16-24 (7-11 OVC) on the season and are in the midst of a five-game losing streak, but the losses all share a common thread.
"The biggest thing has been injuries, and it makes it difficult to win with so many," Worthington said.
Five Colonels are currently out of action: Brittany Mockbee, Amber Lenz, Erin Luther, Larkyn Wood and Kalyn Fox.
With so many injuries to key players, where does this season rank with Worthington?
"Absolutely the worst as far as the record and injuries go, but injuries determine record," Worthington said. "With six or seven kids out of the lineup, it's extremely difficult right now."
April 22
Kentucky
Eastern's tough luck began last Tuesday in Lexington as the Colonels faced the Kentucky Wildcats (26-18). Kentucky got on the board early with the play of pitcher Rachel Riley, but not with her play in the circle.
Riley got the Wildcats on the scoreboard with a solo home run to give her team a lead it wouldn't relinquish. Kentucky's Brittany Cervantes also went yard on Eastern's pitching staff with a three-run shot of her own en route to the 7-0 victory for the Cats.
Eastern gave up 10 hits on the day while Shyenne Hussey and Erin Luther were the only Colonels to get hits. Injuries definitely slowed the Colonels, but Worthington said she doesn't completely chalk the loss up to the injury bug.
"We just didn't play well enough to win," Worthington said.
April 25, 26
SEMO
The Colonels returned to OVC play in a doubleheader against Southeast Missouri (22-19, 10-8 OVC) on Saturday.
Game one wasn't without its drama. The game came down to the final out to determine the victor.
Southeast Missouri took an early lead 1-0 in the first inning and built the margin to 4-0 by the fourth inning. By the time the Colonels were able to make a run on the Redhawks in the sixth inning, time was not on their side.
Eastern put two runs on the board in the sixth inning, with Kalyn Fox and Erin Luther both crossing home plate for Eastern. In the seventh inning, the Colonels inched closer to SEMO with yet another run batted in to make the score 4-3. Unfortunately, the run was all for naught, as the Colonels left the tying and go-ahead runs on base in the top of the seventh via a strikeout.
The Colonels racked up seven hits in game one and were led by freshman Diane Gallagher, who went 3-4 at the plate and stole three bases..
Senior pitcher Chelsea Butler and Fox each went three innings for the Colonels, giving up nine hits with only two strikeouts compared to SEMO's 13.
In game two, the Colonels came out swinging in an attempt to stop the Redhawks from making a clean sweep of the series. The Colonels scored twice in the first inning to take a 2-0 lead going into the second inning, where Eastern added to its lead before the third with a 3-1 lead.
The Colonels' lead would be short lived, as the Redhawks came back in the third inning to take a 4-3 lead. Eastern managed to tie the game in the next inning, but SEMO rolled off three more runs over the course of the next two innings to seal the 8-5 victory.
Eastern may have lost the tale of the tape in the second of two games on Saturday, but the Colonels actually out-hit the Redhawks 14-12 on the day.
"Both games, we were right there with them," Worthington said.
The Colonels were led in game two by Gibson and Erin Luther, who each had three hits.
To close out the series, the Colonels and Redhawks decided to play one more.
Sunday is usually a day of rest for most, but not for the Colonels. Much like the first meeting between these two teams, the game came down to a strikeout once again.
The Colonels got off to a fast start once again by building their 3-0 lead early in the first. Eastern held onto this lead until the Redhawks finally hit their stride in the fifth to overtake the lead by the seventh for yet another 4-3 victory over the Colonels.
April 28
Miami (OH)
After the weekend sweep, the Colonels returned to action on Tuesday to face another breed of Redhawk at Miami of Ohio in yet another reprieve from conference play.
Eastern took an early lead, much like in the games before, but again, the Colonels allowed the opposition another late rally the fifth to seal a 7-2 Miami (OH) victory.
The Colonels were scheduled to play at Louisville at 5 p.m. on Wednesday. Results were not available at press time. They return home this weekend to close out the season with a three-game series against OVC foe UT Martin. The doubleheader on Saturday begins at 1 p.m.
What the coach didn't know was in store for the Colonels would be their Achilles' heel. The Colonels now stand at 16-24 (7-11 OVC) on the season and are in the midst of a five-game losing streak, but the losses all share a common thread.
"The biggest thing has been injuries, and it makes it difficult to win with so many," Worthington said.
Five Colonels are currently out of action: Brittany Mockbee, Amber Lenz, Erin Luther, Larkyn Wood and Kalyn Fox.
With so many injuries to key players, where does this season rank with Worthington?
"Absolutely the worst as far as the record and injuries go, but injuries determine record," Worthington said. "With six or seven kids out of the lineup, it's extremely difficult right now."
April 22
Kentucky
Eastern's tough luck began last Tuesday in Lexington as the Colonels faced the Kentucky Wildcats (26-18). Kentucky got on the board early with the play of pitcher Rachel Riley, but not with her play in the circle.
Riley got the Wildcats on the scoreboard with a solo home run to give her team a lead it wouldn't relinquish. Kentucky's Brittany Cervantes also went yard on Eastern's pitching staff with a three-run shot of her own en route to the 7-0 victory for the Cats.
Eastern gave up 10 hits on the day while Shyenne Hussey and Erin Luther were the only Colonels to get hits. Injuries definitely slowed the Colonels, but Worthington said she doesn't completely chalk the loss up to the injury bug.
"We just didn't play well enough to win," Worthington said.
April 25, 26
SEMO
The Colonels returned to OVC play in a doubleheader against Southeast Missouri (22-19, 10-8 OVC) on Saturday.
Game one wasn't without its drama. The game came down to the final out to determine the victor.
Southeast Missouri took an early lead 1-0 in the first inning and built the margin to 4-0 by the fourth inning. By the time the Colonels were able to make a run on the Redhawks in the sixth inning, time was not on their side.
Eastern put two runs on the board in the sixth inning, with Kalyn Fox and Erin Luther both crossing home plate for Eastern. In the seventh inning, the Colonels inched closer to SEMO with yet another run batted in to make the score 4-3. Unfortunately, the run was all for naught, as the Colonels left the tying and go-ahead runs on base in the top of the seventh via a strikeout.
The Colonels racked up seven hits in game one and were led by freshman Diane Gallagher, who went 3-4 at the plate and stole three bases..
Senior pitcher Chelsea Butler and Fox each went three innings for the Colonels, giving up nine hits with only two strikeouts compared to SEMO's 13.
In game two, the Colonels came out swinging in an attempt to stop the Redhawks from making a clean sweep of the series. The Colonels scored twice in the first inning to take a 2-0 lead going into the second inning, where Eastern added to its lead before the third with a 3-1 lead.
The Colonels' lead would be short lived, as the Redhawks came back in the third inning to take a 4-3 lead. Eastern managed to tie the game in the next inning, but SEMO rolled off three more runs over the course of the next two innings to seal the 8-5 victory.
Eastern may have lost the tale of the tape in the second of two games on Saturday, but the Colonels actually out-hit the Redhawks 14-12 on the day.
"Both games, we were right there with them," Worthington said.
The Colonels were led in game two by Gibson and Erin Luther, who each had three hits.
To close out the series, the Colonels and Redhawks decided to play one more.
Sunday is usually a day of rest for most, but not for the Colonels. Much like the first meeting between these two teams, the game came down to a strikeout once again.
The Colonels got off to a fast start once again by building their 3-0 lead early in the first. Eastern held onto this lead until the Redhawks finally hit their stride in the fifth to overtake the lead by the seventh for yet another 4-3 victory over the Colonels.
April 28
Miami (OH)
After the weekend sweep, the Colonels returned to action on Tuesday to face another breed of Redhawk at Miami of Ohio in yet another reprieve from conference play.
Eastern took an early lead, much like in the games before, but again, the Colonels allowed the opposition another late rally the fifth to seal a 7-2 Miami (OH) victory.
The Colonels were scheduled to play at Louisville at 5 p.m. on Wednesday. Results were not available at press time. They return home this weekend to close out the season with a three-game series against OVC foe UT Martin. The doubleheader on Saturday begins at 1 p.m.
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