By Chandler Harris, Assistant Sports Editor
The softball team split its final two games of the South Central Shootout on Sunday, finishing in second place in the largest NCAA Division II tournament in the nation. Overall, the Wildcats finished the weekend 5-1, including victories over No. 19 Central Missouri and MIAA preseason favorite Nebraska-Omaha.
The team then traveled to San Antonio where it split a pair of games with St. Mary’s on Tuesday and swept a pair of games with Incarnate Word on Wednesday.
On the final day of the South Central Shootout, the team lost 2-1 to Pittsburg State. The Wildcats led 1-0 in the top of the seventh inning with their ace, Jacque Gregoire, in the pitcher’s circle. Outfielder Erin DeStefano hit a go-ahead two-run home run. Despite the home run, Gregoire allowed two runs on eight hits and only one walk.
“We had hit great all weekend and you can only stay on a roll for so long,” said Chantiel Wilson, head softball coach. “Gregoire pitched great, and they beat us. We didn’t beat ourselves.”
In the second game Sunday, the team defeated Newman (Kan.) 6-2 behind a strong outing from pitcher Kim White. White allowed two runs on five hits, while striking out five. Catcher Jessica Shiery hit her third home run of the season in the bottom of the first to give the team a 2-0 lead, and the Wildcats never looked back.
On Tuesday, Gregorie was honored as the Lone Star Conference South Division Pitcher of the Week. Gregoire went 2-1 in the South Central Shootout with a 0.78 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 18 innings pitched.
“This is a huge accomplishment for Jacque,” Wilson said. “She had a back injury last year, and I’m proud of her hard work over the summer and the fall to get healthy. She has been a big key to all of our wins.”
Following the announcement Tuesday, Gregoire led the Wildcats to a win over St. Mary’s 5-1 in the first game of a doubleheader. In the sixth inning, the team had RBI hits from Shiery and outfielder Brooke Whittlesey. Infielder Nancy Sawyers added an insurance run in the seventh with an RBI. Gregoire allowed one run on five hits and struck out eight Rattlers.
The Wildcats did not fare so well in the nightcap, as they lost in six innings 11-3 on account of the run rule. The team began strong with a home run from infielder Jenny Kulp in the first inning, but things went downhill from there. The Rattlers scored all 11 runs in just five innings, including five in the fourth inning alone. Shiery hit a two-run home run in the fifth, but it was not enough to bring the Wildcats back. Gregoire started once again, but allowed two earned runs in three innings and was credited with the loss.
On Wednesday, the Wildcats scored 14 runs in each of their two victories over Incarnate Word in a doubleheader. In game one, the Wildcats defeated the Cardinals 14-4, despite giving up a grand slam in the bottom of the first inning. Gregoire recovered and allowed only two hits in the final six innings of play to pick up the victory and improve to 8-2 on the season. Shiery, first baseman Katie Corneilson and Kulp each had 2 RBIs.
In the second game Wednesday, the team defeated the Cardinals 14-12, as Shiery connected on yet another home run, driving in three runs. The Wildcats scored all 14 runs in three innings with six in the second, four in the fourth and four in the sixth. Kim Partin came on in relief for the Wildcats and earned the win.
The team returns home Friday to begin Lone Star Conference play against West Texas A&M. The teams will play a doubleheader Friday, beginning at 5 p.m. at Wells Field with the second game scheduled for 7 p.m. On Saturday, the teams will wrap up the three-game set at noon.
“They are a very good hitting team and are off to a real solid start at 13-1,” Wilson said. “We have to be aggressive at the plate and get our bats going.”
