Spring Break
URI team softball trip to Tampa, Fla. leaves head coach Layton optimistic
Brandon Gearing
Issue date: 2/27/09 Section: Sports
02/27/09 - The University of Rhode Island softball team traveled to Tampa, Fla., Feb. 20 to 21 to participate in The University of South Florida "The Game" tournament. The Rams went 1-3 in the tournament, earning a 9-6 win over Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and falling to the University of Albany, USF and Jackson State University by scores of 12-0, 7-1 and 3-0 respectively.
Head coach Erin Layton remained optimistic after seeing her team in action for the first time in 2009, her first year at the helm for Rhody.
"There was a lot of excitement and a lot of nerves our first game, but it was great to be back out on the field," Layton said.
In game one, the Rams squared off against an Albany team who succeeded in handing Rhody what Layton called "a disappointing loss."
The Great Danes rode the arm of junior hurler Leah McIntosh to a five-inning mercy rule no-hitter.
"Against Albany we were taking some big swings and our defense was a little jittery," Layton said.
The visiting Rams opened the game with a trio of strikeouts and Albany quickly capitalized, jumping out to an early 4-0 lead on three hits off of URI starting pitcher, freshman Jayshree Narendran.
Rhody could not answer back but Narendran was able to settle down in the second inning to keep the game at 4-0.
However, in the third, the Great Danes chased Narendran out of the game thanks to three Albany hits, two URI errors and one hit batsman.
Looking at an 8-0 deficit, Layton called upon senior Odalys Torres to stop the bleeding in the fourth inning.
Albany did not appear phased by the change as it struck again with another four run inning, this time on two hits, two walks, one wild pitch and one error.
McIntosh shut down the Rams in order at the top of the fifth to secure the shortened victory.
"The good news is we improved game-by-game," Layton said. "As the tournament progressed we were able to build off of each game and raise our level of play."
Head coach Erin Layton remained optimistic after seeing her team in action for the first time in 2009, her first year at the helm for Rhody.
"There was a lot of excitement and a lot of nerves our first game, but it was great to be back out on the field," Layton said.
In game one, the Rams squared off against an Albany team who succeeded in handing Rhody what Layton called "a disappointing loss."
The Great Danes rode the arm of junior hurler Leah McIntosh to a five-inning mercy rule no-hitter.
"Against Albany we were taking some big swings and our defense was a little jittery," Layton said.
The visiting Rams opened the game with a trio of strikeouts and Albany quickly capitalized, jumping out to an early 4-0 lead on three hits off of URI starting pitcher, freshman Jayshree Narendran.
Rhody could not answer back but Narendran was able to settle down in the second inning to keep the game at 4-0.
However, in the third, the Great Danes chased Narendran out of the game thanks to three Albany hits, two URI errors and one hit batsman.
Looking at an 8-0 deficit, Layton called upon senior Odalys Torres to stop the bleeding in the fourth inning.
Albany did not appear phased by the change as it struck again with another four run inning, this time on two hits, two walks, one wild pitch and one error.
McIntosh shut down the Rams in order at the top of the fifth to secure the shortened victory.
"The good news is we improved game-by-game," Layton said. "As the tournament progressed we were able to build off of each game and raise our level of play."
