By River Mitchell
@rivermitchell27
The Springfield College softball team came into their game against Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) being a force in the NEWMAC with an overall record of 25-3 and an 8-0 mark in conference play. MIT proved to be trouble, however, as they dominated in every facet of the game sweeping the doubleheader by the scores of 10-0 and 8-0 respectively.
“We can’t dwell on this,” said Pride head coach Kate Bowen. “We just need to reflect and then really make sure we’re coming back strong next week.”
Both games started out very similar with MIT striking for three runs in the top of the first in both contests. Game one featured a Mackenzie Bivin two-run double off Gillian Kane, followed by a Kennedy Adkison RBI double. Meanwhile, in game two, Ava Ladd hit an RBI double, then Mackenzie Relihan followed up with a two-run single..
“Their hits kind of hit the gaps and ours didn’t,” Bowen said. “They got the timely hits and we didn’t today.”
On top of the early offensive spark from MIT accelerating it to the victory, the pitching was also lights-out. Caroline Langmeyer pitched a complete-game shutout for the Engineers with five strikeouts. In game two, Becca O’Connor also threw a shutout﹣allowing three hits in the six-inning affair.
However, even though the Engineers’ offense was consistently producing the entire game alongside the phenomenal pitching, Bowen’s attitude toward the game was still positive and upbeat.
“I never felt like we were out of it with our mentality”, Bowen said. “I think we were in it every pitch so I think if anything, we need to work on a couple things. But I think we’re still going strong as a team, and we’re going to come back really strong next week.”
With the Pride hosting Westfield in another doubleheader on Wednesday, Bowen looks forward to the couple days off in the schedule that they have in a schedule that is jam-packed with competition.
“We’ve been having like six-game stretches each week, it’s just a lot,” Bowen said. “We play almost our entire season in April and then like one week in May. We’re gonna have an off day on Monday, we’re going to actually take some rest and then we’re going to come back really strong on Tuesday and prepare for the week.”
Photo: Springfield College Athletics