Softball splits with ESU

Recap:
Wednesday, April 2 vs. East Stroudsburg:
Game 1: L 2-6
The Warriors exploded to five combined runs in the fourth and fifth innings en route to a 6-2 victory in game one. ESU jumped all over Kait Arbogast in the fourth inning, forcing her to leave the game after allowing three runs on four hits in three innings of work. Mary Hoch entered the game and allowed two more earned runs on six hits in the final four innings. The Golden Bears, who began a rally in the bottom of the seventh but could only manage one run, had just six hits in the game.

Game 2: W 7-1
The Golden Bears jumped ahead 3-0 in the third inning before adding four insurance runs in the fifth frame to seal the 7-1 game two victory. Ashley Fitzgerald carried the offense, registering a 2-for-3 day at the plate, which included a solo homer in the second inning and a three-run shot in the fifth. Monica Glomb earned the winning, tossing a complete game five hitter. She allowed just one earned run and struck out nine.

What we liked:
Game two saw outstanding performances from both Monica Glomb and Ashley Fitzgerald. Glomb had one of her best outings as a Golden Bear, allowing just one run and striking out nine. She will be counted on to come up big in key situations as the season goes on, and, if Wednesday was any indication of things to come, coach Judy Lawes should feel good about Glomb. Fitzgerald had three hits on five at bats in the doubleheader and all but single-handedly carried KU to a game two victory. She has been the biggest threat at the plate for the Golden Bears in 2008 and there is no reason to believe that she won’t continue to perform at this level. Maria Schiavo was 2-of-4 at the plate, while Kathy Gregg was 2-of-5 and scored three runs.

What we didn’t like:
Kait Arbogast has allowed three earned runs in each of her last two games, which could be worrisome. The sophomore ace pitched most of KU’s innings last season, and, although she has help from Mary Hoch and Glomb this season, she is still needs to be at the top of her game if KU has a chance against the likes of Lock Haven and Bloomsburg. The Golden Bears’ offensive struggles on Wednesday were the product of poor outputs from big bats Steph Denlinger [pictured] (1-for-5) and Krista Cameron (1-of-7), leadoff hitter Kim Morrison (1-of-7), and freshman Krista Tedjeske (0-for-6), who is counted on to provide protection for Cameron in the six spot.

Impact:
The split, coupled with Bloomsburg’s sweep of Shippensburg, drops KU from the top spot in the PSAC East. The Huskies (4-0) lead KU (5-1) and SU (4-2) with plenty of games still to be played. ESU has proved to be one of the worst teams in the East so far this season, so the loss could prove costly with the competition for the top seed in the division sure to be a dogfight. The players who have been struggling/struggled on Wednesday are proven veterans in most cases and there is no doubt in my mind that they will be back to form this weekend when KU continues it’s divisional schedule with two of the biggest doubleheaders of the season. The Golden Bears will head to Bloomsburg on Friday and return home to face Shippensburg on Saturday.