UMW softball ends season on bitter note

By CHRIS MARKHAM

After a successful regular season, the University of Mary Washington softball team entered the Capital Athletic Conference tournament with confidence and high expectations.

Despite this, the Eagles suffered a potential season-ending loss to Salisbury University of Friday, April 17 in the CAC tournament.

The Eagles won their first round game against York College (Pa.) by a score of 6-4. The win did not come easy, however, as the Eagles had to come back from a two-run deficit in the sixth inning to have a chance at victory.

That is just what the Eagles did.

With only 1 1/2 innings remaining, the Eagles found themselves trailing 4-2. UMW’s bats came to life just when they needed to as the Eagles piled on four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 6-4 lead which they would eventually take to the finish.

The win put the Eagles up against Christopher Newport University for a chance to continue their championship hopes. Putting themselves in a hole early, the Eagles gave up three runs in the second inning and one more in the fourth to face a four-run deficit in the fifth inning. The Eagles scrounged up a run in the inning, but none more afterwards, losing to the Captains 4-1.

Although the margin was not as close as they would have liked, the Eagles kept pace with CNU in the hitting department, as both teams managed nine hits. The Eagles’ main disadvantage came from the runners-left-on-base department, where UMW totaled a detrimental eight runners.

The double-elimination format of the tournament kept the Eagles’ hopes alive following their loss to CNU. A matchup with Salisbury on Friday would ultimately determine UMW’s fate.

Despite a brilliant play made by junior Stefannie Asselanis in the outfield, which made it onto ESPN Top-Ten, the Eagles lost to the Seagulls 6-2, almost certainly ending UMW’s season.

The Eagles’ 21-14 overall record is their best in five season and their 8-6 conference record ranks fourth in the CAC.