The women’s softball team opened their 2012 season over spring break in Clermont, Fla., returning to Geneseo with a 2-6 record.
Going into the trip, head coach Tony Ciccarello said their goal was to “just get [their] feet wet.” Eight nonconference games, along with a downpour on the first day of competition ensured this.
On Monday March 12, the Knights struggled against Messiah College (Pennsylvania) in an 11-0 decision over just six innings.
“We just really got off to a bad start … Things just didn’t work out,” Ciccarello said.
In the second game that day, Geneseo fell to Monmouth College, 5-0.
Junior Lexi Williams led the offense for the Knights with two hits, including a double. Defensively, juniors Mary Bostwick and Katie Gallagher shared time on the mound, pitching four and two innings, respectively. Bostwick allowed five hits and three runs, and struck out five, while Gallagher allowed one hit and two runs, but struck out two.
“We’re pitching by committee. If we have a complete game this year, I’ll be really surprised ... just because that’s the way we’re going into it,” Ciccarello said. “We just have to do what we need to do to get the [win].”
In the third game against Keene State College, the Knights fell to the Owls, 4-3.
In the extended eighth inning, senior Kelsey Ogden and freshman Abby Weiss were left on base.
“That was the theme of the week. We ended up leaving 50-something on base … We got hits then left people on. We didn’t string them together,” Ciccarello said.
Both Ogden and junior Stef Rosenberg went 2-4 to lead the offense. Ogden also added one of the three runs for the Knights.
Despite the loss, Ciccarello said he considered it “the best game of the week.”
“We had 10 hits, we drove people in [and] both teams left a ton on base … Both teams played very well,” Ciccarello said. “We played as perfect of a game as we could.”
Throughout the week, sophomore Sam Trapasso led the team offensively, hitting 9-18 with three doubles and three stolen bases.
“[Trapasso] had a great week. Hopefully she can keep it going,” Ciccarello said. “She could be an All-American … [She’s] a talent.”
According to Ciccarello, senior KK Schaus struggled early in the week. On the last day, however, Schaus complemented Trapasso’s offensive power with two, two-run homeruns.
For the eight freshmen, this was their first experience with intercollegiate competition.
“I was really pleased [with the freshmen],” Ciccarello said. “This is a really strong class. It’s one of the strongest ones in the last couple years as far as depth.”
Geneseo has its home opener on Wednesday March 28 against D’Youville College. Ciccarello said that the team aims to “drive people in when they’re on, make the play [and] let the pitchers pitch.”
“Everything’s there, we’re just not putting everything together,” Ciccarello said. “Once we put it together we’ll be dangerous.”