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Sports Lakers softball returns from Fla. with 3-5 start
By Rhonda Marable Staff writer During spring break the Mercyhurst women’s softball team traveled south to Fort Myers, Florida to play in the Gene Cusic Tournament to kick off the 2008 season. After graduating its top two pitchers and three of the top four hitters from last season, head coach Sara Headley looks to mold her new, young team into a conference contender this season. Coach Headley begins her fifth season with a record of 76-97-1, needing just one win to become the all-time winningest coach in Mercyhurst softball history. On Sunday, February 24th the Lakers opened with a pair of losses to Concordia St. Paul. The first game ended with The Golden Bears blanking the Lakers 3-0 but the Lakers fought back later in the afternoon ending the game just short of a win 7-6. On Monday, the 25th the Lakers picked up their first win against Alma 3-2. Freshman Amanda Norman picked up her first ever collegiate victory on the mound with the two-hitter. With the win, head coach Headley got the one win she needed earning her 77th career win, making her the winningest coach in program history. Following the win in the morning, the Lakers got an opportunity to rematch Concordia St. Paul for the first time since Sunday. The Golden Bears defeated the Lakers with the largest margin of victory for the tournament going 14-6. The Lakers bounced back on Tuesday with another win over Alma 6-3 and a 4-1, second rematch victory over Concordia St. Paul. Sophomore pitcher Carina Crow earned her first victory of the season with the victory over Alma and Norman picked up her second win holding Concordia St. Paul to a single run. Coming off of the two victories the Lakers could not manage to end the tournament on a winning note. Concordia St. Paul pulled out another close game against the Lakers 6-5 and even with a double by team captain Jessica McNurlen, the Lakers were blanked against Alma 5-0. Mercyhurst completed the weekend 2-1 against Alma and 1-4 against Concordia St. Paul. The women will hit the field next in Florence, South Carolina at the Francis Marion Invitational on March 7-9. After returning from Florida the Lakers come back to Erie and an eighth place finish ranking in the GLIAC. The team was picked to finished eighth in the conference by a poll of conference coaches. Eight of the 11 GLIAC teams will advance to the GLIAC Tournament at the end of the regular season. The Lakers finished 11-9 with a fifth place ranking in the conference last season earning them 39 points in the polls. The Lakers were picked to finish ahead of Hillsdale, Findlay and Lake Superior State. Sophomore shortstop Megan Houston is the only returning all-conference player batting .279 with four homers last year. Backing her up is McNurlen and senior outfielder Erin Ratajczak. Ratajczak bats .320 and started all 45 games last year. With the completion of the spring break trip, the Lakers hold a record of 3-5 thus far. The Lakers will have six opportunities to improve their record in the Francis Marion Invitational beginning with their first game against Coker on Friday at 3 p.m.
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