With dominating pitching and a purpose at the plate, the HSU softball team overwhelmed their competition on Saturday, sweeping their home opening double-header against Dominican University.
It only took 10 innings for the Jacks to complete the sweep, after both games were called via the mercy rule (10 runs.) After walking the lead-off batter in the first inning, freshman pitcher Vaneza Hoover struck out two of the next three batters she faced. Hoover was lights out from that inning on. She allowed no hits and only three walks, while striking out eight of the 12 batters she faced.
At the plate in game one the Jacks banged out 15 hits, and when it rained it poured. The hit parade began in the second inning. It started with sophomore Kirsten Nouzovsky's single.
With sophomore Sammi Gilbert at the plate, freshman Serena Aragones was asked by Coach Cheek to steal second base. She was successful, which set the table with runners at second and third. On the next pitch Gilbert laced a double to the left field fence, which scored both runners. Gilbert advanced all the way to third after a wild throw from the outfielder. Gilbert scored two batters later when freshmen Giavanna Hampton singled to left. When the smoke cleared after the second inning, the Jacks had six runs on six hits and didn’t leave a person on base.
"We were confident all day," said Junior Lindsey Warren.
For Dominican University pitcher Leslie Fay, it didn’t get any better in the third inning. The Jacks got their jump-start again from Nouzovsky, who blasted a home run over the center field fence.
“I try to focus on the pitcher and watch the ball,” said Nouzoovsky. “I just try to drive it."
Coach Cheek sensing the confidence in the Jacks approach at the plate chose to allow freshman Serena Araganos to hit away instead of playing small ball to advance Warren into scoring position. Araganos delivered with the next swing of her bat by driving the ball over the left field fence for a home run.
“Hitting is 90 percent mental, so when you get the hard hits and the hits that fall in, it builds the ladies' confidence,” said Cheek.
At the end of the third, the score was. The Jacks continued to pound the Dominican University's pitching until the mercy rule was put into effect with the final score being 14-0.
Nouzovsky and Araganos led the Jacks in hitting in game one. Nouzovsky went three for three at the plate with a homerun, four RBIs and two runs scored. Araganos went two for two with a home run, a stolen base, two RBIs and two runs scored.
In Game two, the Jacks didn’t wait around to jump on Dominican pitcher Jessi Saaty. The Jacks scored three runs in the first inning and five runs in the second inning. Christina Lewis Got the start in the circle for the Jacks and threw three innings of two-hit ball allowing only one run.
The Jacks collected 14 hits in the five innings they played, being led again at the plate by Kristin Nouzovsky. Nouzovsky went three for three again with two RBIs and three runs scored. Gracie Perez came in to close the door on Dominican for the fourth and fifth innings, striking out five of the six batters she retired and sealing the victory for the Jacks over Dominican University 11-1.
The sweep places the Jacks at 6-8 overall and 2-6 in the CCAA.
Be the first to comment on this article!