Softball took the field to host conference rival Roanoke College in a doubleheader last Saturday.
The Panthers split the two-game series, winning game one 4-1 and losing game two 10-1.
To begin the day, first-year Mirenda Shields singled to right field, scoring first-year Nicole Emerson for the first run of the game.
The Panthers would follow up the first inning run with a run in the second, third, and fourth innings.
“We executed, moved runners when needed, and came up with big hits in the first four innings,” Head Coach Joshua Freeman said. “It gives confidence to the pitcher and the rest of the team that they don’t have to be perfect and can go out and play their game.”
Game one’s starting pitcher was first-year Emily Wood.
Wood threw her second complete game of the season, allowing one run on nine hits, striking out six.
“Freshman will have ups and downs throughout the year. The last two games, Emily has attacked the zone better and has trusted her stuff and her defense,” Freeman said.
Additionally, Emerson is someone who Freeman thinks has caught fire after going 1-2 with two walks in game one against Roanoke but is hitting 16-36 in the month of March.
“Just like Emily, Nicole was going through a little rough spot. She has turned it on lately and is a catalyst for the offense,” he said. “With her ability to get on, her speed and great base running really put pressure on the other team.”
For Freeman and the softball team, they have a motto of protecting the hill.
In game one, the team did that with a 4-1 win.
Game two started with two scoreless innings before the Maroons put up five in the top half of the third.
To follow, Roanoke added three in the fourth and two more in the fifth.
Down 10-0, the Panthers scored one on Shield’s fielder’s choice, scoring Emerson.
The team would fall in game two 10-1.
“With a young team, we need to learn how to stop the big inning; it has plagued us all year,” Freeman said.
After the first week of conference play, softball sits at a 1-1 record and fourth in the conference.
This upcoming weekend, the Panthers square off against a ranked opponent in Randolph-Macon, who swept Shenandoah in its opening conference weekend matchup and are 16-2 overall.
Freeman said that to beat them, the team will have to score more runs.
“Macon is 17th in the country with a couple of great pitchers. It will be another fun challenge for this team,” he said.
