Washburn Lady Blues Weekly Notes | NWMSU Live Stats | TSU Live Stats

Warm ups . . .
The Washburn Lady Blues return to MIAA play on Friday, April 13 when they travel to face Northwest Missouri in Maryville, Mo., and then take on Truman the following day in Kirskville, Mo. Washburn is in fifth place in the MIAA standings with a 5-7 record. Northwest Missouri is tied for seventh with a 4-10 record and Truman is in 11th with a 3-11 record. The top eight teams in the final conference standings will reach the MIAA Tournament April 26-28 in Overland Park, Kan.

Last week's action . . .
March 6 vs Northeastern State
TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn Lady Blues softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with future MIAA foe Northeastern State on Friday at the Washburn Softball Complex dropping the opener 4-2 before rallying to take a 9-2 win in the nightcap. Washburn hosts No. 4 Central Oklahoma on Saturday at 1 p.m.
The two teams were scoreless in the opener until the fourth inning when the Riverhawks scored three runs in the frame  when Kelsi Hilderbrandt hit a double to right center scoring Lisa Ripperger and Shelbi Bowin. NSU added one more on an RBI single by Kylee McKinney to take a 3-0 lead.
Washburn scored in the bottom of the fifth when Shelby Erickson tripled to right field and scored on a double to left center by Kristen Bell. Kacy Covert picked up an RBI single scoring Bell. But it would be the only runs Washburn would get as they stranded five runners the rest of the way in the 4-2 loss after the Riverhawks added an insurance run in the top of the seventh.
Moore (5-7) took the loss after striking out five allowing 13 hits in the loss.
In the second game, Kayla Oldham (7-9) picked up the win coming back from a 42-pitch first inning as the Lady Blues won the nightcap 9-2 taking advantage of six Riverhawk errors. The Riverhawks took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first and stranded three in the inning, but the Lady Blues cut the lead in half after Erickson singled to center scoring Alex Zordel who singled earlier in the inning.
Washburn took the lead for good in the second inning on a three-run homer by Moore, her seventh of the year which scored Oldham and Katie Schroeder. Washburn added five in the fourth inning after the Riverhawks committed four errors during the Lady Blues' at bat.
After Haley Heincker led off the inning with a single, Covert followed with a single of her own and the Schroeder gave the Lady Blues their third-straight single in the inning. Moore reached on a error by the Riverhawks shortstop Bowin scoring Heincker and then on the throw back to third to try to get Covert out, Bowin's throw was wide of third. After a Zordel lineout, Britny Cushing reached on a fielder's choice and a fielding error by the catcher after dropping the ball, Hilderbrandt's throw back to the pitcher was over her head scoring Covert from third and Schroeder from second and Moore moved all the way to third base. A single by Erickson put her on base and then Oldham picked up an RBI - the first of the inning for the Lady Blues - on a single to righ field scoring Cushing wrapping up a 9-2 lead for the Lady Blues.
Oldham finished the game allowing two earned runs with two strikeouts scattering 12 hits. Schroeder, Erickson, Oldham and Covert all had two hits each as the Lady Blues had 11 in the game. Moore finished with 3 RBI in the second game.   

Upcoming opponents. . .
Northwest Missouri -  The Bearcats are 14-24 and 4-10 in the MIAA and will take on Drury on April 11 prior to facing the Lady Blues on April 13. Hailee Hendricks leads the Bearcats with a .319 batting average. Kayli Schurman is batting .301 with a team-high 12 home runs. Jenna Kreger is 5-7 in the circle with a 3.99 ERA. The Lady Blues lead the all-time series with the Bearcats 48-27.
Truman -  The Bulldogs are 18-23 this season and 3-11 in MIAA play. Truman will face Lindenwood on April 10 in a doubleheader and Fort Hays State on April 13 before taking on the Lady Blues on April 14. Bridget Schade is batting .425 with 10 home run, 48 hits and 28 runs scored to lead the Bulldog attack. Kelsea Dorsey is 11-9 with a 3.08 ERA entering this week's action. Washburn leads the all-time series 33-29 and they have won the last two sweeping the season series last year.

Lady Blues player notes. . .

#1  • Britny Cushing  • UT • R/R • 5-4 • Sr.  • Topeka, Kan. • Seaman   
Has recorded 104 hits in her WU career.

#3  • Kristen Bell  • C • R/R • 5-8 • Fr.  • Lawrence, Kan. • Lawrence
Has started all 32 games at catcher for the Lady Blues.
 
#4  • Katie Schroeder  • 2B • L/R • 5-2 • So.  • Osage City, Kan. • Osage City
Second on the team with 102 at bats this season.

#6  • Erin Macaronas  • IF • R/R • 5-5 • Jr.  • Coffeyville, Kan. • Field Kindley • Coffeyville CC
Has appeared in 15 games this season collecting five hits.

#7  • Kacy Covert  • OF • L/R • 5-5 • Sr.  • Topeka, Kan. • Shawnee Heights • Butler County CC
Batting .463 in MIAA play with 19 hits and nine runs scored.

#8  • Kayla Oldham  • P • R/R • 5-5 • Fr.  • Derby, Kan. • Derby
Had a career-high two hits while picking up the win against Northeastern State last week.

#9  • Haley Heincker  • 2B/OF • R/R • 5-2 • Jr.  • Derby, Kan. • Derby  • Cowley County
Has scored 13 runs this season appearing in 26 games.

#10  • Cori Munoz  • P/3B • R/R • 5-3 • Fr.  • Topeka, Kan. • Seaman  
Has a 2-2 record making 14 appearances and five starts this season.

#13  • Lindsey Moore  • IF/P • R/R • 5-7 • Sr.  • Edmond, Okla. • Edmond Memorial  
Needs two hits to reach 150 for her career.

#14  • Mallorie Monhollon  • UT • B/R • 5-8 • Fr.  • Topeka, Kan. • Shawnee Heights   
Has seven hits and eight runs scored playing in 24 games this season.

#15  • Leah Garland  • 1B/3B • R/R • 5-6 • Fr.  • Osage City, Kan. • Osage City
Was 1 for 3 last week playing in one game against Northeastern State.

#17  • Paige Hightower  • 1B/C • R/R • 6-1 • So.  • Chickasha, Okla. • Chickasha
Has three hits and two runs scored this season.

#22  • Shelby Erickson  • SS • R/R • 5-6 • So.  • Perry, Kan. • Perry-Lecompton  
Hit her first triple of her career last week against Northeastern State.

#23  • Alex Zordel  • 1B • R/R • 5-7 • Jr.  • Baldwin City, Kan. • Baldwin   
Her 17 career home runs are just outside the top 10 in school history.

In the dugout . . .
Vanessa Becerra was named the Washburn Lady Blues head softball coach on Aug. 3, 2011 after spending four seasons at Metro State in Denver, Colo., with the final season coming as the head coach. At Washburn she is 14-18 and overall Becerra has recorded a 48-36 mark in her second year as a head coach.
In her lone season as the head coach at Metro State, Becerra led the Roadrunners the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular season championship while advancing to the NCAA regional tournament for the third straight season.

Lady Blues softball history. . .
The Lady Blues are 1029-729-1 in their 43rd year of softball. The Lady Blues have made three NCAA Tournament appearances (1999, 2006, 2008) while winning the 2002 regular season MIAA title.

Up Next . . .
The Lady Blues will return home on April 20 to face Pittsburg State and then they will wrap up the regular season against Missouri Southern on April 21 and honor Lindsey Moore, Britny Cushing and Kacy Covert as part of senior day activities.