SAINT MARY OF THE WOODS, Ind. - The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College softball team (7-5) stunned the #24 NAIA team Indiana University-Southeast (13-5) today behind strong pitching performances from Summer Rocha and Josie Lord. The Pomeroy's dual wins put them back above .500 before their weekend series against Taylor University (10-4).
Game #11 | vs. Indiana University-Southeast | W 10-9
The Pomeroys struggled early on as multiple errors would give IU-Southeast a quick 4-0 lead. Summer Rocha's pitching would be the highlight of the game as she hit her corners and forced grounders often. The defense would come to her aid as the game went on as SMWC was able to chip away at the Grenadier lead. A bases-clearing double by Ariel Spivey in the 5th would inch SMWC closer until they were able to break the game open in the 6th with a 5-run inning and take the lead 10-7. Some late-game drama unfolded in the 7th as IU-SE attempted the comeback themselves, but Rocha was able to secure the win and her third of the season.
Pomeroy Player-of-the-Game: Ariel Spivey, who notched 5 RBI's on 2-4 hitting including a 3-run double and a single in the 6th to score the go-ahead run.
Game #12 | vs. Indiana University-Southeast | W 2-0
Neither side could string together hits through the start of this one as both defenses would make run-saving plays. The Pomeroys found some opportunities, but issues on the basepath ended their rallies short. It wasn't until the bottom of the 6th when a double by Jilliann Reese, followed by a Jaselyn Conn triple, would start the scoring. Cameron Scott followed it up with a sacrifice fly to center to score Conn as SMWC took a 2-0 lead late. Josie Lord would wrap up the game with possibly her best pitching performance of the season allowing just four hits over seven innings.
Pomeroy Player-of-the-Game: Josie Lord, who pitched the Pomeroys through seven innings of shutout ball while allowing just four hits and striking out three.
Pitching Decisions
Summer Rocha (W, 3-2) | 7.0 IP, 10 H, 9 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO
Josie Lord (W, 2-2) | 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
Quote | Head Coach Jim Walker
On the team's play today...
"We were able to bounce back in that first came because we actually played really bad. I think we were a little nervous because we saw that this team came in ranked and we weren't really sure how we stacked up against them. After we got the nerves out of us, I think we proved that we're probably a pretty good team in the RSC next year. The girls battled, they've done that all year. They don't care if they get down. They're gonna fight to the last ounce so we can't complain about that. We're happy about that, we got two [wins]. Josie kind of bounced back today pitching, which was really big for us because her last she didn't do so well but today she held a pretty good-hitting team to no runs so we can't complain about that."
Quote | #9 Summer Rocha
On how she felt she pitched today and what the team can do to capitalize...
"Overall I think I did okay. There's always room for improvement, things that I could have done better. I could have hit my spots better. [As far as] capitalizing and moving forward, we just need to make sure we keep our energy up like we did for the past two games and that we keep the bats moving and have a clean defense and we'll take those games [tomorrow] no problem."
Quote | #14 Josie Lord
On her performance today and the team's mindset right now...
"Obviously there's always work to be done, [but] it's very early in the season and we're trying to get that .500 or above record to make it to Nationals. Every game is another opportunity to get another win. Obviously [the goal] is to keep improving and keep getting better."
Who's On Deck?
SMWC goes on the road to Upland, Indiana tomorrow, March 13th, when they face Taylor University (10-4) for a 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. ET matchup.
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