By Pat Tintle
Staff Writer
After starting the Atlantic 10 season with a 1-3 record, the Bonnies took a four-game road trip to play Rhode Island in a two-game set last Friday.
On March 29, the Bonnies took the first game from the Rams by a score of 11-6.
“The bats have been coming alive all year,” Coach Mike Threehouse said. “We’ve hit the ball consistently. One of our problems before the past two weeks was that we didn’t hit the ball well with runners in scoring position.”
To address the team’s lack of clutch hitting, Threehouse moved outfielder Ashley Snider, normally the third batter, into the leadoff spot and pushed shortstop Emily McDonough to the two hole. The move took some of the pressure off of Snider and allowed McDonough a chance to move around, Threehouse said.
“Ashley’s been hitting the ball all year,” Threehouse said. “It was a chance to relax her and to allow her to not have to always hit with runners in scoring position in the three hole.”
In the past two weeks, the Bonnies have raised their team batting average with runners in scoring position from .198 to .243, a big jump according to Threehouse. The team’s top of the lineup combined for seven of Bonaventure’s 11 runs against Rhode Island.
The second game on Friday went to Rhode Island by a score of 6-2. Pitcher Julia Pratt started the game, but came out after 1 and 1/3 innings pitched, allowing four runs and one earned.
“We have to continue to learn how to pitch,” said Threehouse. “The players have an understanding that there is more to pitching than just throwing the ball over the plate.”
In the four-game span, the Bonnies’ pitching gave up 30 runs.
“We’ve had a tendency of letting teams get back in the game as soon as we take the lead,” said Threehouse. “It’s making it tough on us.”
On Saturday, March 30, the Bonnies played a double-header against UMass. The Bonnies dropped both games to the Minutemen by scores of 6-4 and 12-4, respectively.
Snider, who leads the team in walks, RBIs and homeruns, continued her hot streak, finishing the weekend with four runs and five RBIs.
“Ashley had a great weekend,” said Threehouse. “She hit the ball well and adjusted to the leadoff spot.”
The Bonnies were scheduled to play their first home games this weekend against St. Joseph’s (19-3) today and tomorrow, but due to lingering winter weather, the game has been rescheduled to be played in Philadelphia. The St. Bonaventure softball diamond is unplayable, according to Threehouse.
After the Hawks, the Bonnies will play a doubleheader against Temple (12-15) Sunday.
“We just have to hit and pitch a little bit better every game,” Threehouse said. “They’re both very good teams that have been successful in the A-10 lately. We just need to play the best softball that we can possibly play.”
