Heading into its first games of the season with only a single pitcher with any collegiate pitching experience, the softball team did not know really what to expect as it played in its first games of the season in the USF-Wilson-DeMarini Tournament.
The tournament consisted of six teams; N.C. State, Marshall, Florida, Long Island, Florida Gulf Coast and the host team, South Florida. After a hot 2-0 start on Friday the Pack limped home on a losing streak as it lost its final three games on Saturday and Sunday.
“It is not what we wanted, but it is definitely a good starting point,” senior third baseman Bridget Desbois said. “We know what we need to work on.”
Desbois was the most consistent Pack player offensively over the weekend, as she ended up 8-13 with six RBI’s, in the five game tournament.
“I was just seeing it I guess,” Desbois said. “I wasn’t really thinking much. I just felt good, I felt right on point.”
However, it wasn’t all a loss as the team used this first tournament as a valuable learning tool for the freshmen and new players.
“It was just a learning experience for me and the other freshmen,” freshman pitcher Kayla Cox said. “We are going to do great from here on out, it is just up from here.”
The Pack started the tournament out hot defeating its first two opponents, Florida Gulf Coast and Long Island, on Friday 8-2 and 7-5.
In the first game, Cox earned the win in her first career start, striking out ten batters on the way to pitching seven strong innings, allowing only two runs. On the offensive side, Desbois provided all the necessary run support as the third basemen went 4-4 driving in three runs, helping the Pack win its first game of the 2011 season.
The second game faired the same for the Pack as junior Morgan Peeler pitched the team to victory giving up five runs in the complete game performance that included sitting down 11-straight batters at one point. Offensively, senior catcher Alyssa Albritten led the team driving in two runs while going 2-3 at the plate.
As Friday passed, the Pack’s winning ways left with it, dropping its next three games, 9-0, 8-6, 6-4, dropping it to 2-3 on the season.
Even with the losses, the team didn’t seem to be to down due to the offensive output it got in four out of its five games.
“We hit the ball hard, we hit the ball well and we are working really great as a team,” Desbois said. “We have a few things here and there to work on but we are definitely going to improve this following weekend.”
In the three losses, Cox earned two of them, one as a starter and the other in relief. However, the freshman didn’t seem to be intimidated by the college game.
“It was about what I expected,” Cox said. “I knew it was going to be very competitive, it was definitely a new experience compared to travel ball and high school. All of the batters are good and I have to be on my ‘A’ game 24/7.”
The Pack looks to end the three-game slide Friday as it travels to Athens, Ga., to play in the Georgia Softball classic over the weekend.
