Packing their bags to start the season off
Softball begins with 47 straight road games
The women’s softball team will have its fair share of ups and downs and bumps and bruises. Knowing the schedule’s rigor, the team set a realistic goal of finishing .500 on the year.
The schedule that includes 47 straight-away games and a grand total of 53 on the year. The Bison will have to be true “road warriors” and will have to show resilience to overcome adversity to travel the long, winding road that will become their season.
“ (Our) team will struggle early with the schedule we have,” head coach Darren Mueller said. “We will have to pick up momentum around spring break with the games we have then.”
With so many away games the Bison will need to draw leadership from their seasoned veterans, seniors Meghan Norris and Amber Garrett.
“ (Norris) does a good job on taking control of the team,” coach Mueller said. “She leads by example.”
In order to achieve success, they will need clutch hits and key defensive plays from their up and coming stars, freshmen Kelly Cantrell, Jackie Currie and Casey Conrad. Coach Mueller expects big things to come from their young and already promising careers.
“ (Currie) has a lot of potential for power,” coach Mueller said. “She also plays a very solid defense.”
Overall the Bison are 2-7 on the year with losses to the University of Oklahoma, University of Nevada, Missouri State University, University of Arkansas and Penn State. Their two wins have come against UMKC and Drake University.
In the game against Drake University, the Bison’s Amber Garrett tossed a perfect game, an unbelievable feat in softball.
“ It was great. We just had a tough game versus Penn State and (Garrett) came back and stepped up and did a great job for us,” coach Mueller said. “(Garrett) has experience and demeanor on the mound.”
The Bison are in action next at the Tar Heel Invitational March 3-5.