Softball Drops to 0-13
By Joanne Sheng
Staff Writer

The women's softball team competed at the Sunwest Tournament throughout the past week. This tournament featured teams from across the nation playing during their spring breaks. Day one opened with the Hens battling Cal State Hayward with a loss of 13-0. The second and third day of competition featured grueling double-headers against Notre Dame, Hayward, Bethany, and St. Rose. All four games also ended in defeat with final scores of 14-0, 10-0, 8-0, and 16-6 respectively.

Competition was hard-hitting for the Hens with most teams being from NAIA - a league similar in firepower to most NCAA Division II schools. Improvement was the main focus of the team and was evident as the team seemed to play with increasing intensity. Head Coach Eli Koenn-Bollinger remarked, "It was disappointing to not be able to produce runs in the first four games of the tournament, but I'm proud of the team for coming through in the end and getting through their mental barrier."

Against CSU Hayward, Leanne Stein '05 and Courtney Buchanon '06 each had two hits for the day. Alex Schaible '06 and Marni Scotten '06 shared pitching duties. Against Notre Dame, Buchanan, Jameela Hammond '05, and Monica Belli '04 all had hits for the Sagehen squad. Scotten and Schaible again split time on the mound for the Hens. In the afternoon game facing off against Hayward for a second time, three different players had hits for the Hens. Emily Helliesen '03 had two, while Hammond, Miranda Martin '05 and Chelsea Simms '05 all had one hit apiece. Belli and Scotten each got time on the mound for the Sagehens.

Contributing to the generally empty scoreboard was the fact that the games were marred by errors. The team committed an average of three errors per game, giving the opposing teams an additional advantage to score. Although the team managed a few hits throughout the first four games, they were incapable of scoring any runs. However, in the final game, the Hens rallied against the Golden Knights of St. Rose with clutch hits in multiple situations, raising the score to six runs. First time at bat for her college career, Schaible was two for two while utility player Hammond was one for three with three RBIs. Despite their efforts, St. Rose managed to score eight runs in the last inning bringing the final score to 16-6.

In addition, Pomona-Pitzer enjoyed particularly powerful performances in the fourth game of the tournament versus the Bethany Bisons. A highlight performance occurred in the bottom of the third inning when Bethany's lead-off batter attempted to steal second base. Hammond swiftly threw her out with cover by shortstop Ariana Littauer '06, foiling the Bisons vicious charge. Pitcher Belli threw an excellent four innings, facing twenty-three batters, striking out three and walking one. Although Bethany scored eight runs they only two runs were earned runs because of errors by the Sagehen defense.

Shortstop and outfielder Stein, a returning 2nd Team All-SCIAC Player commented, "We have a lot of talent and this team is special because we are so cohesive with each other."

Also returning to the field for the Hens this year are upperclassmen Helliesen, Stephanie Lozano '03, Belli, Dara Sievers '04, and Julie Weber '04. Among the numerous freshman on the team, left fielder Erin Kahle and center fielder Buchanan are proving they are forces to be reckoned with. In the first game of the season, Kahle exhibited her power at the plate as well as speed and agility on the field with an impressive diving catch. Buchanan is invaluable in terms of her contributions as a leader in the outfield.

The losses dropped the Hens to 0-6 in SCIAC and 0-13 overall. Their next game will be against St. Mary's College this Friday at 1:00 p.m.