With a 24-17 record, the softball team is already ahead of last years’ pace, when it finished with 23 wins. In its last outing, it took a 3-1 victory over the No. 16 Florida State Seminoles in Tallahassee to avoid the series sweep.
One large factor in its improvement over last year’s mark has been the team’s hot bats, and more specifically, its ability to take pitches over the fence in bunches. The Pack has been hitting better than its opponents all season, batting .247 while competing against a .210 average from its opponents. This year’s team has been flexing its muscles by hitting 40 total homeruns, while its opponents have combined to hit just 17.
“Our entire lineup has a lot of power,” senior first baseman Allison Presnell said. “Anyone on the team is able to hit a homerun at any given time.”
Junior second baseman Alyssa Ishibashi said her team’s success has been a result of efforts made before this season ever started.
“Our hard work over the offseason has attributed to our hitting,” Ishibashi said. “We’ve taken it upon ourselves to put in the work to get better as individuals.”
In the final game of their series against Boston College, junior catcher Alyssa Allbritten and Presnell smashed two homeruns back-to-back in the bottom of the seventh inning to bring home a 4-3 win on April 3.
“They changed pitchers before the at-bat,” Ishibashi said. “Once they changed pitchers, we knew that we could pull it out because the first was better than the second from what we saw.”
Presnell said the offensive success has been a result of discipline and patience.
“We are capitalizing on the mistakes that other pitchers make,” Presnell said. “So we’re keeping a good eye on the ball and taking advantage of their mistakes to hit well.”
Sophomore first baseman Stephanie Call leads the way with 11 homeruns on the season and a .297 batting average. This production has been a big jump from her freshman year, when she posted a .197 batting average, one homerun, and two RBIs in over 66 plate appearances.
Ishibashi said her performance on the field has been a direct result of her confidence level reaching new heights.
“She’s seeing the ball pretty well and she’s putting it in play,” Ishibashi said. “Her confidence level has definitely gone up this year, and we’ve seen that through her hitting and pitching this year.”
Presnell agreed.
“When she makes contact, the ball goes really far,” Presnell said. “She’s on a good hitting streak and she’s definitely improved from last year.”
The Pack will be in action again on Wednesday to play a double header against East Carolina at 3 and 5 p.m. at Dail Stadium.
