By Eustace Q. Browne
Staff Writer
With a 3-16 overall record, the St. Bonaventure softball team’s struggles have been well-documented. The team’s morale hasn’t wavered, however.
With conference games and warmer weather on the horizon, Coach Michael Threehouse and his players have pointed to this time on the schedule as the time to right the ship.
For the Bonnies, an essential and difficult stretch is coming up on their schedule. The next six out of eight games are conference games.
The next opponents include a doubleheader at La Salle on March 22, a doubleheader at George Mason on March 29 and the first home game of the season for the Bonnies on April 5, when they welcome in St. Louis for another doubleheader (and a non-conference doubleheader at Binghamton on April 1.)
Of the three conference teams the Bonnies will be playing in their upcoming stretch, all rank in the top four of the A-10 conference, while the Bonnies sit at the bottom.
What works in the Bonnies favor is they have decent records against the conference teams they play. For instance, the Bonnies are 9-1 over their last ten games against the Explorers.
For the Bonnies to continue their success against La Salle, the Bonnies must get bigger contributions from all of their players. Junior outfielder Kelli Rohan, sophomore shortstop Emily McDonough and sophomore first baseman Katie Sinclair lead the team in hitting in all categories. However, the rest of team has not matched their contributions.
For instance, junior outfielder Grace Rooney has significantly dropped off from her 2013 form where she led the team in batting average at .368. This season, her batting average has dropped to .234. Senior outfielder Ashley Snider has also been a culprit of a regressive season. In 2013, she led the Bonnies with nine home runs, 30 RBI’s and 19 walks. This season she has been held homer-less and has only three RBI’s.
The biggest culprit behind the lack of performance has been pitching. The Bonnies pitching staff has combined for 16 losses and only three wins. The pitching staff has a combined 6.70 ERA with an opponent’s batting average of .352.
Freshman Kristen Hickling has gotten the call from coach Threehouse nine times this season, which leads the staff. She has amassed a 3.76 ERA and has delivered the Bonnies only three wins; however, she is responsible for six of the Bonnies’ losses. The rest of the pitching staff is responsible for 10 of the Bonnies’ losses.
Despite player performance woes, the Bonnies remain confident they can right the ship and stay in contention for the A-10 tournament.
