The softball team will attempt to defend its perfect 4-0 record this weekend at the Dixie Classic in Norfolk, Va. The Red will open the classic today with games against Niagara (0-4) and Delaware (2-3), facing Norfolk State (1-8) and Binghamton (0-5) tomorrow and closing out play on Sunday with a double-header against Marist (1-9).
“We’re going to face a little stiffer competition than we did in D.C. [last weekend] and we’re looking forward to it,” said head coach Dick Blood.
Two of Niagara’s losses were inflicted by the Red last weekend, though it was not all smooth sailing. The Red opened the classic with a solid 10-2 win over the Purple Eagles, but the margin of victory was much smaller the next day with junior Tiffany McCrory on the mound for Niagara. The final score was 3-1.
[img_assist|nid=22004|title=Level through the zone|desc=Sophomore Meghan Risica takes a swing at a belt-high pitch in a game against Dartmouth on April 8, 2006.|link=none|align=left|width=96|height=100]
“I expect that when we face Niagara we’ll face their No. 1, the girl who shot us down the other day and only gave us three hits,” Blood said. “She effectively shut us down. We were fortunate to pitch well and play good [defense].”
The Red fell to Delaware in last year’s tournament, 1-0, after two costly Cornell fielding errors led to a Delaware run in the fourth inning and the Red couldn’t capitalize with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh. Both Niagara and Delaware had winning records last season.
“Right away day one should be a couple of dogfights,” Blood said.
In last year’s Dixie Classic, the Red also dropped games to Maryland, 8-0, and James Madison University, 6-4. The team defeated George Mason, 10-1, and host Norfolk State, 8-0, to finish the classic with a 3-3 record. Leaning on the strong pitching tandem of then sophomore Jen Meunier and then freshman Haley Mirrer, the Red’s losses were due in large part to defensive breakdowns.
The Red’s strong pitching returns to Norfolk. Today, Meunier will be the first to take the mound for the Red. Mirrer will then face Delaware in the second game. For the remaining games, however, the Red will send out a pitcher based on the opposing team.
“Norfolk’s a very fast team and I may elect to rock and roll there and let Haley face Norfolk to try and slow down their short game. She’s a very, very good athlete — second base/shortstop off the mound,” Blood said. “Any time you can put a shortstop on the mound you better your defense.”
Junior co-captain Samantha Hare will anchor the Red’s defense in her regular spot at shortstop, with senior co-captain Lauren Battaglia starting at first base. The Red’s all-star outfield will again consist of sophomore Meghan Risica in left, junior Jenna Campagnolo in center and classmate Ashley Wolf in right.
Freshman Alyson Intihar had a breakout performance at the George Mason Classic last week — batting .417 with five runs, six RBIs and the team’s lone homerun. Though Intihar will start at second base, Blood also wants to see her at shortstop.
The Red will also take this weekend as an opportunity to experiment with its roster.
“I need to move some players around to get them a little more experience and see how they’re going to handle different positions,” Blood said.
For this reason, freshman Elise Menaker will start at third base but will also see time at first.
“She’s got … a pretty potent bat and I want to make sure I have options to use her in the lineup, whether it’s at the first base side of the diamond or the third base side of the diamond.”
Junior Adrienne Matta will also see time at first and third, freshman Izzy Pines will try the outfield, and, though she is still recovering from a broken thumb, freshman Caitlin Hutchinson has been cleared to play.
Hare will anchor the Red’s defense in her regular spot at shortstop, with senior co-captain Lauren Battaglia starting at first base. The Red’s outfield will again consist of sophomore Meghan Risica in left, junior Jenna Campagnolo in center and classmate Ashley Wolf in right.
Freshman Alyson Intihar had a breakout performance at the George Mason Classic last week — batting .417 with five runs, six RBIs and the team’s lone homerun. Though Intihar will start at second base, Blood also wants to see her at shortstop.
The Red will take this weekend as an opportunity to experiment with its roster.
“I need to move some players around to get them a little more experience and see how they’re going to handle different positions,” Blood said.
For this reason, freshman Elise Menaker will start at third base, but will also see time at first.
“She’s got … a pretty potent bat and I want to make sure I have options to use her in the lineup, whether it’s at the first base side of the diamond or the third base side of the diamond.”
Junior Adrienne Matta will also see time at first and third, freshman Izzy Pines will try the outfield, and, though she is still recovering from a broken thumb, freshman Caitlin Hutchinson has been cleared to play.