Spring Break
URI softball suffers double-loss to Stony Brook University Tuesday
Chris Smith
Issue date: 3/26/09 Section: Sports
03/26/09 - The University of Rhode Island softball team was held scoreless in its double-header loss to Stony Brook University Tuesday afternoon, 10-0 and 6-0.
Rhody had just one hit in game one as freshmen outfielder Courtney Prendergastt hit a lead off single in the third inning. Prendergastt then stole second providing Rhody's only scoring opportunity during the game. But, Stony Brook starter Alyssa Struzenberg struck out the next three URI batters to end the scoring threat.
In the bottom half of the inning the Seawolves scored seven runs on five hits including a two run homerun.
Rams senior starting pitcher Odalys Torres was handed the loss as she fell to 0-5 on the year.
"We're still recovering from our catcher breaking her thumb," head coach Erin Layton said. "We have our third and fourth string catchers going for us behind the plate and they're doing a good job. But it takes time awhile to adjust when the field general is out with an injury."
In game two the Rams managed to get five hits, but still could not get on the board. At the top half of the second inning the Rams had runners at first and third with two outs, but freshman Brittany Julich popped out ending their scoring chance.
Rhody had another scoring opportunity in the third inning as junior Jackie Kampmeier and sophomore Amanda Sbei both hit singles with one out. Seawolves starting pitcher Colleen Matthews was once again able to get out of the jam.
Stony Brook was able to get one run in the first, two in the third and fifth, and one more in the sixth to secure the 6-0 victory.
Freshman pitcher Jayshree Narendran took the loss falling to 2-3 on the year.
"We were putting our hits on the board and I think the team did a good job of adjusting to the pitching," Layton said. "The pitcher they threw in the first game threw very hard and had a bit of an up pitch. The pitcher they threw in the second game didn't have as much speed and she moved the ball better in and out. We made a better adjustment in the second game and we just weren't able to put back-to-back-to-back hits together."
The Rams are now 6-14 overall and 1-1 in the Atlantic 10 conference, but coach Layton expects to see improvement from her team the rest of the season.
"We are going to get to the 500 mark with our win-loss record," she said. "We're going to play very well in the state of Rhode Island. We have big games coming up against Bryant, Providence, and Brown. That was our goal from the very beginning to be very competitive against the three other Rhode Island division one schools. It's our goal to qualify for the Atlantic 10, we want to get in there."
The Rams will try to improve their record this afternoon playing a double-header at Boston University.
"They are a very strong team," coach Layton said. "They are going to be a very good challenge for us. They are going to get us ready to play St. Bonaventure. If we can compete well against BU we should be able to carry that over to Bryant and St. Bonaventure."
Rhody had just one hit in game one as freshmen outfielder Courtney Prendergastt hit a lead off single in the third inning. Prendergastt then stole second providing Rhody's only scoring opportunity during the game. But, Stony Brook starter Alyssa Struzenberg struck out the next three URI batters to end the scoring threat.
In the bottom half of the inning the Seawolves scored seven runs on five hits including a two run homerun.
Rams senior starting pitcher Odalys Torres was handed the loss as she fell to 0-5 on the year.
"We're still recovering from our catcher breaking her thumb," head coach Erin Layton said. "We have our third and fourth string catchers going for us behind the plate and they're doing a good job. But it takes time awhile to adjust when the field general is out with an injury."
In game two the Rams managed to get five hits, but still could not get on the board. At the top half of the second inning the Rams had runners at first and third with two outs, but freshman Brittany Julich popped out ending their scoring chance.
Rhody had another scoring opportunity in the third inning as junior Jackie Kampmeier and sophomore Amanda Sbei both hit singles with one out. Seawolves starting pitcher Colleen Matthews was once again able to get out of the jam.
Stony Brook was able to get one run in the first, two in the third and fifth, and one more in the sixth to secure the 6-0 victory.
Freshman pitcher Jayshree Narendran took the loss falling to 2-3 on the year.
"We were putting our hits on the board and I think the team did a good job of adjusting to the pitching," Layton said. "The pitcher they threw in the first game threw very hard and had a bit of an up pitch. The pitcher they threw in the second game didn't have as much speed and she moved the ball better in and out. We made a better adjustment in the second game and we just weren't able to put back-to-back-to-back hits together."
The Rams are now 6-14 overall and 1-1 in the Atlantic 10 conference, but coach Layton expects to see improvement from her team the rest of the season.
"We are going to get to the 500 mark with our win-loss record," she said. "We're going to play very well in the state of Rhode Island. We have big games coming up against Bryant, Providence, and Brown. That was our goal from the very beginning to be very competitive against the three other Rhode Island division one schools. It's our goal to qualify for the Atlantic 10, we want to get in there."
The Rams will try to improve their record this afternoon playing a double-header at Boston University.
"They are a very strong team," coach Layton said. "They are going to be a very good challenge for us. They are going to get us ready to play St. Bonaventure. If we can compete well against BU we should be able to carry that over to Bryant and St. Bonaventure."
