The NMHU Softball team finished the 2012 season on a high note by winning both games of their final double header of the season against the Adams State Grizzlies, on 4/22, in Alamosa, Colo. The wins give the Cowgirls a 2-2 split of their four-game series against Adams State College. The Cowgirls' offense completely dominated game one of the double header on their way to a 16-7 pounding of the Grizzlies. In game two, Cowgirl
Erica Wieck controlled the Grizzlies' offense from the pitcher's circle, allowing only one run on three hits, and the Cowgirls scored six runs to take the victory 6-1. With the victories over the Grizzlies, the Cowgirls, led by Head Coach Shellie Broyles, improve to an 18-22 record in the RMAC and 26-28 in overall play.
The Cowgirls took the early lead in game one, scoring two runs in the top of the second inning. In the top of the third inning, the Cowgirls' offense caught fire. They scored eight runs on seven hits and took advantage of two errors by the Grizzlies. Adams State managed to get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning, scoring two runs, but after three innings of play the Cowgirls were dominating game one, 10-2.
The Grizzlies closed the gap even further in the bottom of the fourth inning. They rallied for five runs on six hits, including two triples, to close to within three runs of the Cowgirls. Both teams went scoreless until the Cowgirls struck again in the top of the seventh inning. Their bats lit up once again and they scored six more runs on seven hits. The Grizzlies went three up and three down in the bottom of the seventh to seal the 16-7 victory for the Cowgirls.
Jessica Brink (11-7) was credited with the win in game one for the Cowgirls. She threw three and two-thirds innings from the pitcher's circle and faced 22 batters. Brink allowed seven runs on 9 hits, struck out two batters and walked one.
Erica Wieck was brought on to relieve Brink in the bottom of the fourth inning. She threw three and a third innings from the pitcher's circle and faced 11 batters. Wieck allowed no runs on only one hit and struck out three Grizzlies.
The Cowgirls' offense exploded in game one. They combined for an impressive .450 team batting average, with 16 runs on 18 hits, and hit four doubles and a triple.
Brittany Potter,
Katie Kerr, and
Tess Oliphant were the offensive leaders for the Cowgirls in game one.
Potter had a great game at the plate. She finished 3-4 and drew a walk. Potter had two RBIs, scored two runs and hit two doubles and a triple.
Kerr was 3-5 at the plate and had four RBIs. Oliphant finished the game 1-4 in the batter's box, but she had three RBIs and two runs scored.
In game two, the Cowgirls once again jumped out to an early lead. They scored two runs in the top of the second inning when
Molly McDougall hit a two-run homerun over the wall in left-center field. In the top of the third inning, the Cowgirls added another two runs to the scoreboard.
Krista Mattice stepped up to the plate with two outs and runners on first and second base. She smashed the ball down the left-field line for a two-RBI triple that scored
Brittany Potter and
Jenelle Klassen. The Cowgirls held a 4-0 lead after three innings of play.
The story of game two was the dominating pitching performance of Cowgirl
Erica Wieck. She was working a no-hit shut out through four innings before the Grizzlies could generate a hit.
The Grizzlies finally got on the scoreboard in the fifth inning. They scored one run on two hits to cut the Cowgirls' lead to 4-1.
The Cowgirls answered the challenge in the top of the sixth inning with two more runs.
Lynette Directo hit a two-RBI single to right field, allowing both
Alisha Perry and
Devon Paiz to score. The Grizzlies managed to get one more hit off of a bunt in the seventh inning, but the Cowgirls' defense stood firm and ended the game with a double play to seal the 6-1 victory.
Erica Wieck (6-13) was the winning pitcher for the Cowgirls in game two. She threw a complete seven innings from the pitcher's circle and faced 25 batters. Wieck allowed only one run on three hits, struck out four batters and walked two.
The Cowgirls' offense combined for a .333 team batting average in game two, with six runs on 10 hits, and had a triple and a homerun.
Molly McDougall,
Krista Mattice, and
Lynette Directo were the offensive leaders in game two for the Cowgirls.
McDougall was 2-3 at the plate with two RBIs and a run scored. She started off the scoring for the Cowgirls with her second inning two-run homerun.
Mattice went 2-4 at the plate with two RBIs and a run scored. Her third inning two-RBI triple extended the Cowgirls lead to four runs.
Directo was 1-4 in the batter's box with two RBIs.
Erica Wieck was dominant from the pitcher's circle in the day's double header games against the Grizzlies. She threw a total of 10 and one third innings in two games and only allowed one run and four hits. Wieck struck out a total of seven batters and only allowed two walks.
The Cowgirls' offense finished the season the same way they started it, on fire. They combined for 22 runs on 28 hits in the two games, with four doubles, two triples, and a homerun. The Cowgirls offense has been potent this season and they have led the way to the majority of their victories in 2012.
The Cowgirls have now completed the 2012 RMAC regular season. Although they finished the season in 11th place in the RMAC and will miss the post-season tournament, the 2012 Cowgirls have made a dramatic improvement from last year. They tripled their conference win total from 2011 when they only won six games in the RMAC and they won 16 more games in total from their 2011 10 win season.
Lynette Directo and
Brittany Potter were the team leaders on offensive for the Cowgirls in 2012.
Directo led the Cowgirls in batting average with 57 hits in 144 at bats for a .396 average. She finished the season with 35 RBIs, 35 runs scored, 11 doubles, two triples, and six homeruns.
Potter led the Cowgirls in RBIs and homeruns this season and finished with a .383 batting average. She had 46 RBIs, 34 runs scored, 11 doubles, and 12 homeruns.
The Cowgirls pitching staff was much improved in 2012. The Cowgirls fielded three new pitchers in
Jessica Brink,
Jenelle Klassen, and
Erica Wieck. They also benefited from the expertise of new Assistant Coach/Pitching Coach Christi Zinanti.
Jessica Brink led the Cowgirls in wins, strikeouts and ERA. She finished the season with an 11-7 record and threw 131 innings. Brink had a 4.49 ERA, struck out 88 batters and threw 10 complete games in 2012.
Head Coach Shellie Broyles put together a strong team for the 2012 season and will benefit from losing only senior
Alisha Perry for next season. The Cowgirls made opponents in the RMAC take notice of them this season and they will be looking to continue the improvement in 2013. Continue checking the
NMHU Athletics website for further stories and information about Cowgirl Softball.
GO COWGIRLS!!!
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