In a weekend that included a furious comeback, an ejection and Mother Nature toying with the schedule, there was also some softball played.
Bradley’s softball team dropped two games to Southern Illinois April 12 and 13, taking the first game of a doubleheader Saturday before dropping the last two to the Salukis.
The Braves were led in the circle by senior Madeline Lynch-Crumrine, who tossed a complete game three-hitter while striking out five. She gave up one earned run and walked six.
On offense, Marina Groenewegen went 2-for-2 with a home run and a double. She knocked in three of Bradley’s five runs while scoring two of her own.
The second game started off well for the Braves, as they jumped ahead 3-0 in their half of the first inning. However, SIU responded with a pitching change, and new pitcher Taylor Orsburn silenced the Bradley bats until the Braves’ half of the seventh inning.
The seventh started with a hit batsmen and a pair of singles to load the bases. Alex Chandler lined a two-run double into left-center field to plate two runs. With runners on second and third, sophomore Kendall Duffy lined out into right field and junior Shannon King was thrown out at home trying to score, ending the game.
Coach Amy Hayes said she liked the fight the team showed, even though the team was unable to score enough for the win.
“It’s a testament to the heart that these kids have,” Hayes said. “We’re trying to change a culture here, and it’s not going to happen overnight. This is probably the best group of fighters I’ve had here since my first year [2009].”
Junior Alyson Spinas-Valinas made her Laura Bradley Park debut, but it was short-lived.
Spinas-Valinas gave up two hits and a walk and was unable to record an out in the inning. She seemed to have some trouble with the mound, garnering numerous illegal pitch calls from the umpire. Hayes said she didn’t agree with all the calls.
“They could’ve been a little bit more consistent with the calls,” Hayes said. “Some of them were a little bit wishy-washy, but she tried to fight through it. That was [the umpire’s] thing that day, and it wasn’t going to get any better.”
The Braves fell in the third game to the Salukis 6-4. Crumrine, dominant the day before, surrendered six earned runs on 10 hits in less than six innings of work. Hayes said a lack of adjustments are likely to blame for Crumrine’s outing.
“We should’ve changed our game plan a little bit to combat that. It’s always about controlling the things you can control,” said Hayes.
Hayes was ejected from the game for arguing with the umpire, and Groenewegen said as a player, it’s nice to know the coach has her back.
“It lets us know she’s as invested into the game as we are,” Groenewegen said. “It’s a little bit of a confidence boost, knowing she’ll fight for what she thinks is right. It makes us want to play a little bit harder for her.” The Braves squared off against I-74 rival Illinois State for a Wednesday doubleheader. Behind another dominant performance from Crumrine, the team took game one 3-0. However, the pitching let them down in game two, as they fell to the Redbirds 11-2.
This weekend, the team hits the road to face Indiana State. Hayes said the team has to stay focused.
“We’re not changing our focus,” Hayes said. “It’s all about team this year, and they really stick to that. When you look at all the pinch hit home runs we’ve hit this year, it means each kid knows they have their role and they believe in it.”
Garth Shanklin is a junior sports communication major from Williamsburg, Ohio.
Questions, comments, or concerns may be emailed him directly or to the Scout’s sports email, bradleyscoutsports@gmail.com
