Washburn Lady Blues Weekly Notes | Tournament website | Live stats for UCM game (remaining live stats sites to be determined)

Warm ups . . .
The Washburn Lady Blues begin postseason play at the 2012 MIAA Conference Tournament to be held at the Blue Valley Sports Complex hosts the event beginning Thursday and finishing Saturday. Washburn will face Central Missouri in its opening game at 6 p.m. and then face either Emporia State or Lincoln in the 8 p.m. game. The Lady Blues are making their seventh-straight appearance and the 21st in the 22nd season of being a member of the MIAA. The Lady Blues split the regular season doubleheader with Central Missouri losing 8-0 before taking the second game 10-0 on March 17 in Topeka. Washburn is the No. 5 seed in the tournament.

Last week's action . . .
April 20 vs Pittsburg State
TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn Lady Blues picked up a split against Pittsburg State at the Washburn Softball Complex winning game one 9-8 before falling in the nightcap 10-7.
In the opener, the Lady Blues (17-21, 8-10 MIAA) were down 3-1 entering the bottom of the sixth inning before the Washburn rallied to take a 9-3 lead after scoring eight runs capped by a grand slam by Alex Zordel. Zordel actually led off the inning with a double and moved to third on a single by Britny Cushing. Kristen Bell drew a walk to load the bases. After a pitching change by Pittsburg State (28-24, 11-7 MIAA), Jessica Barnes entered the game to pitch and on her first pitch, Leah Garland singled to center moving everyone up a base. Mallorie Monhollon reached on a fielder's choice after third baseman Katelyn Birchfield did not handle her hit scoring Cushing. Katie Schroeder was hit by a pitch as was Lindsey Moore with both players picking up an RBI after being plunked. Zordel then connected on her seventh home run of the season on a grand slam blast to left field staking the Lady Blues to the 9-3 lead.
 However the Gorillas scored five in the top of the seventh. Tiffany Brown had a bases-loaded double for the Gorillas and Kayla Sears added an RBI double bringing in Cori Munoz to the mound with no outs. Munoz proceeded to get a ground out, a called strike three before getting a ground out to end the game picking up her first collegiate save in the process.
 Moore picked up the win improving to 6-9 on the season while striking out five in the game allowing six earned runs. Hilary Erbert took the loss for Pitt State dropping to 13-12.
 Zordel finished with four RBI going 3 for 4 with two runs scored. Moore drove in two going 2 for 3. Brown was 3 for 3 with 3 RBI for the Gorillas, DeCastro drove in three hitting her 15th home run of the season.
 In the second game, the Gorillas took an early lead in the first inning on a single by Kreslee Ketchum, but Washburn knotted the score with an RBI triple by Moore to right scoring Schroeder who led off the inning with a single.
Pitt State took the lead in the third taking advantage of one of five Washburn errors in the second game taking a 2-1 lead. The Gorillas added two more in the fourth inning – both unearned – to take a 4-1 lead.
 Washburn scored two in the bottom of the fifth when Moore and Schroeder both scored on an error by the second baseman. The Lady Blues tied the score in the bottom of the sixth on a two-out double by Erin Macaronas.
 In the top of the seventh, Pitt State scored six runs capped by a Riley Campbell 2-RBI single.
 Washburn scored three in the bottom of the seventh as Moore hit her eighth home run of the season. Zordel doubled and then scored on a double by Britny Cushing. Shelby Erickson had a sac fly scoring Cushing who moved to third on a wild pitch but it would be the last run for the Lady Blues in the 10-7 loss.
 Moore finished a single from hitting for the cycle going 3 for 3 with 2 RBI and two runs scored to lead the Lady Blues.
 Kayla Oldham (9-10) took the loss allowing seven earned runs striking out three. Cheslyn Mitchell got the win for Pitt State improving to 7-2 on the season.    

April 21 vs Missouri Southern
TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn Lady Blues softball team wrapped up the regular season and secured an MIAA Tournament bid with a doubleheader split with Missouri Southern. Washburn's rally came up short in the opener falling 7-6 while in the second game pounded out 16 hits winning 11-2 in five innings.
In the first game, the Lady Blues scored in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead after Lindsey Moore drove in Katie Schroeder opening up the early advantage. The teams remained scoreless until the third inning when the Lions scored four runs on a 2 RBI double by Alysha Poteat. The Lions added two more runs, both unearned, to take a 6-1 lead.
Missouri Southern added one more in the top of the seventh to take 7-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh. Washburn scored five in the frame, but fell a run short. Kacy Covert singled and Schroeder reached base after being hit. Both players moved up a base and then Covert scored on Moore's double to left 10-pitch at bat. Alex Zordel walked and then Britny Cushing picked up a bases-loaded walk scoring Schroeder. Shelby Erickson singled to left scoring Zordel and Moore forcing a Missouri Southern pitching change. Kristen Bell scored Cushing with a sac fly to cut the Lion lead to one at 7-6, but Washburn would leave a runner at third ending the game.
Moore and Erickson each had two RBI and two hits for Washburn. Moore struck out six in the game allowing five earned runs.
In the second game of the twinbill, Washburn knocked out 16 hits scoring 11 runs in the run-rule game. Washburn scored two in the bottom of the first on a two-run homer by Zordel, the first of two for her in the second game. Schroeder led off the game with a walk and scored on a double by Moore, her 18th of the season.
Washburn added three more in the second inning after another two-run homer by Zordel scoring Covert, who doubled in the inning. Schroeder scored prior to Zordel's blast on a wild pitch. Neither team would score until the fourth inning when Washburn added six more to take a 11-0 lead. Erickson singled, as did Paige Hightower. After a single by Erin Macaronas to load the bases, Covert singled to left field, but an error by the Lions cleared the bases giving Covert two RBI after coming around all the bases to put Washburn up 11-0.
The Lions would add two more in the top of the fifth but got no closer in the 11-2 loss.
Kayla Oldham picked up the win scatter six hits improving to 10-10 on the season. Zordel had 3 RBI in the second game. Covert was two for three and fellow senior Britny Cushing finished the second game 3 for 3 with one run scored. Moore, who along with Covert and Cushing, played her final home game going 3 for 4.
Moore finished 4 for 7 in the doubleheader with three RBI, two runs scored and three doubles.  

Possible first day opponents. . .
Central Missouri -  The Jennies are 25-28 entering the conference tournament. UCM is batting .271 this season and has a team ERA of 3.74. Ashlea Bengston leads the team with a .325 batting average. Katie Shockley is 3-3 with a 2.40 ERA while Sarah Espy leads the team with nine wins including a three-hit shutout over the Lady Blues in an 8-0 win on March 17. The Jennies lead the all-time series 43-36 and the Jennies won three of five meetings last season. In the conference tournament, Washburn is 5-5 against the Jennies.
Possible day one opponent - Lincoln - The Blue Tigers are 15-34 overall and 6-14 in MIAA play after winning a three-way tiebreaker with Truman and Southwest Baptist for the No. 8 seed in the tournament. Megan Braun leads the team with a .304 batting average. Starr McLeod has nine of the team's 15 wins in the circle this season. Washburn leads the all-time series 21-3 after sweeping a doubleheader on March 25 winning 11-2 and 1-0. The Lady Blues are 2-0 against the Blue Tigers in the MIAA Tournament.
Possible day one opponent - Emporia State - The Hornets are the top seed in the tournament after going 20-0 during MIAA play. Overall they are 35-9 this season. As a team the Hornets are batting .340 and they are led by Stephanie Goodwin's .457 batting average. In the circle Karley Schmilzer is 15-3 with a 2.29 ERA. The Hornets have won the last 27 games after sweeping a doubleheader on March 30. Washburn's last win over ESU was on April 20, 2005 in a 4-3 win. The Lady Blues trail the ESU in MIAA tournament match ups 1-9 having lost the last six encounters. Washburn has not beat Emporia State in the MIAA Tournament since a 6-3 win during the 1998 tournament.

Lady Blues all-time in the MIAA Tournament . . .
The Lady Blues have compiled a 32-41 record in the MIAA Tournament dating back to the 1991 season. .
1991 • 1-2
1992 • 2-2
1993 • 1-2
1994 • 1-2 (4-1 in MIAA Interdivision play-in tournament qualifier)
1995 • 2-2
1996 • 2-2
1997 • 2-2
1998 • 3-2
1999 • 1-2
2000 • 3-2
2001 • 1-2
2002 • 2-2
2003 • 1-2
2004 • 0-2
2005 • did not qualify
2006 • 1-2
2007 • 3-2
2008 • 1-2
2009 • 0-2
2010 • 0-2
2011 • 1-2

Records vs opponents at the MIAA Tournament . . .
Central Missouri • The Lady Blues are 5-5 against the Jennies.
Emporia State • The Lady Blues trail the ESU in tournament match ups 1-9 having lost the last six encounters. Washburn has not beat Emporia State in the MIAA Tournament since a 6-3 win during the 1998 tournament.
Fort Hays State • The Lady Blues lost the only meeting in MIAA Tournament play to the Tigers on May 7, 2011 in a 5-3 loss.
Lincoln • The Lady Blues are 2-0 against the Blue Tigers.
Missouri Southern • The Lions lead the conference tournament matchups 5-2.
Missouri Western • The Lady Blues and Griffons are 2-6 in MIAA Tournament meetings.
Northwest Missouri • Washburn is 3-2 against the Bearcats winning the last meeting on May 6, 2011 with a walk-off grandslam.
Pittsburg State • The Lady Blues have played the Gorillas the most in the tournament, nine times with the series tied 5-4. The Lady Blues have won the last four meetings in tournament play.
Truman State • The Lady Blues are 3-7 against the Bulldogs and have lost four of the last five meetings in the tournament.
Southwest Baptist • The Lady Blues have won both meetings leading the series 3-0.
Teams no longer in the MIAA
Missouri-Rolla • The Lady Blues lead the meetings in the tournament 4-1.
Missouri-St. Louis • The Lady Blues are 1-2 against the Tritons in the tournament.

Facts and figures for the week that was . . .
The Lady Blues were 2-2 last week … Lindsey Moore was 10 for 13 with a .769 batting average with 7 RBI, four doubles, five runs scored and a home run … Alex Zordel had three home runs during the week with 7 RBI … Shelby Erickson had 4 RBI during the week batting 5 for 12.

Lady Blues player notes. . .
#1  • Britny Cushing  • UT • R/R • 5-4 • Sr.  • Topeka, Kan. • Seaman   
Her three walks against Missouri Southern on April 21 was a career high.

#3  • Kristen Bell  • C • R/R • 5-8 • Fr.  • Lawrence, Kan. • Lawrence
Has started every game at catcher this season.
 
#4  • Katie Schroeder  • 2B • L/R • 5-2 • So.  • Osage City, Kan. • Osage City
Has reached base safely in each of the last 11 games - one shy of the longest streak of any Lady Blue this season (12 by Britny Cushing and Alex Zordel)

#6  • Erin Macaronas  • IF • R/R • 5-5 • Jr.  • Coffeyville, Kan. • Field Kindley • Coffeyville CC
Tied season with two hits against Missouri Southern including a double last time out.

#7  • Kacy Covert  • OF • L/R • 5-5 • Sr.  • Topeka, Kan. • Shawnee Heights • Butler County CC
Career .348 batting average is sixth on Washburn's all-time chart.

#8  • Kayla Oldham  • P • R/R • 5-5 • Fr.  • Derby, Kan. • Derby
Leads the team with 10 wins this season pitching 12 complete games.

#9  • Haley Heincker  • 2B/OF • R/R • 5-2 • Jr.  • Derby, Kan. • Derby  • Cowley County
Has scored 13 runs this season appearing in 32 games.

#10  • Cori Munoz  • P/3B • R/R • 5-3 • Fr.  • Topeka, Kan. • Seaman  
Recorded first career save against Pitt State on April 20.

#13  • Lindsey Moore  • IF/P • R/R • 5-7 • Sr.  • Edmond, Okla. • Edmond Memorial  
Her 16 doubles this season is tied for sixth on the WU chart and her 39 career doubles is tied for eighth at Washburn.

#14  • Mallorie Monhollon  • UT • B/R • 5-8 • Fr.  • Topeka, Kan. • Shawnee Heights   
Has seven hits and 10 runs scored playing in 27 games this season.

#15  • Leah Garland  • 1B/3B • R/R • 5-6 • Fr.  • Osage City, Kan. • Osage City
Had first RBI of the season against Pitt State on April 20.

#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  
Had five hits driving in four last week in four games.

#23  • Alex Zordel  • 1B • R/R • 5-7 • Jr.  • Baldwin City, Kan. • Baldwin   
Has reached base in the last nine games.

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 18-22 and overall Becerra has recorded a 52-40 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 finishing with a 34-18 record.

Lady Blues softball history. . .
The Lady Blues are 1033-733-1 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.