Pam BuzettaThe Washington University softball team expects to face some fierce competition this weekend while hosting the 3rd annual WU Softball Regional Invitational.
“We have the toughest region, so we’re playing many of the best teams in the country,” Meghan Forgy said. “They are all well renowned, well established programs.”
While WU made its NCAA Tournament debut last season, nearly all of the teams arriving this weekend are traditional NCAA playoff contenders. For example, Simpson College recently won two Division III national titles, in 1997 and 1999.
WU may have little to fear in the invitational, though, because the Bears have been playing like they belong with the nation’s best.
The Bears were on fire in their first home games of the season while hosting the Marriott West Invitational last weekend. They defeated Loras College, Upper Iowa University and the No. 11-ranked East Texas Baptist University. In addition, WU posted an 8-0 shutout against Cornell College, who it will face again today.
With the four victories, the team improved to a 15-2 record. The invitational also pushed the Bears’ winning streak to seven games, the longest in the program’s four-year history.
Cornell, with a 3-5 record, may be the easiest opponent the Bears will play. St. Mary’s and Coe boast 12-6 and 8-5 records, respectfully. Meanwhile, Central is undefeated at 10-0 so far this season.
However, on paper Simpson seems to be the team to beat. Simpson is 15-1 and has gone 3-0 against WU in the past. The Bears were upset 1-0 by Simpson in the Regional Invitational last season.
This season, the Bears’ roster looks dramatically different, though. Since the team doubled in numbers due to a deep freshman class, the Bears have shown their skills in all areas of the game.
Liz Swary has taken charge offensively, leading the team in batting average at .547 and slugging percentage at .981. Swary has also had five home runs and 30 RBI for the Bears.
Freshmen Amanda Roberts and Ashley Gaia are also batting above .500, while freshman Monica Hanono leads the team in runs scored at 14.
Again, freshmen and returnees alike have also made for a stronger pitching staff.
Currently, Lorri Fehlker has an ERA of 0.26. Fehlker and Liz Smith have tallied four wins for the team, while Victoria Ramsey has pitched another five. Freshman Ashley Johnson has also started at the mound in four games.
With improved returnees and contributing freshmen, the Bears should be in good position when the Invitational begins.
The players have been looking forward to the competition.
“Our team finally gets to play teams of our caliber,” Forgy said. “It will be interesting to see how we do this year because we have been playing a lot better.”
The Bears, who are undefeated at home, will take on Cornell College at 3 p.m. and Simpson College at 5 p.m. today. Tomorrow, the team will take on Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota at noon on the Hilltop and then head to nearby Shaw Park to challenge Coe College at 5 p.m. The Bears will return to Shaw Park Sunday to compete against Central College at 11 a.m. and will rematch Simpson at 1 p.m.
Fontbonne, Maryville, Blackburn, Illinois Wesleyan, Wartburg, MacMurray and Millikin are also set to compete in the Invitational.