After a packed opening schedule of four double-headers in seven days, Stevens Softball is well into a rhythm for their 2023 season, posting a 5-3 record that includes sweeps of Hunter College and New York University (NYU). The team is now on a three-game winning streak after two hard-fought losses in their opening season games against Ursinus College.
Despite the difficult start on the road, the team took lots of positives from the losses to improve for the upcoming games. Junior infielder Jessica Guerrero, who is one of the team leaders in RBIs (7) and was named a MAC Player of the Week, noted how the team focused on offensive timing, “learning not just from our at-bats but from each other.” This focus paid off, as Stevens posted back-to-back 9-1 victories in their next matchup against Hunter College.
The series against NYU showcased Stevens’ defensive abilities, as well as offensive deliveries in clutch moments. The second game was a 4-3 come-from-behind walk-off win, with senior outfielder Olivia Warner, the other team leader in RBIs, drove in fifth-year outfielder Meg Halloran to complete the sweep. The first matchup was a 4-1 win against the rival from across the Hudson.
Senior starting pitcher Erin Kreis, posting a complete-game win against Hunter, an 8-inning performance in the only other loss of the season to William Paterson University, and five innings of shutout ball in a no-decision against NYU, harped on the team’s chemistry in the early days of the season.
“We have some tough opponents ahead of us,” Kreis stated, “but I think as long as we’re having fun and playing our game we will have a great season.”
The softball team also was undeterred by the water main crisis in Hoboken last week. Still holding practices where lots of bottles of water were provided, the players kept a positive mindset as they prepared for a busy week of games. Guerrero stated that the team “ had a goal/objective to accomplish” in practice to make adjustments after the losses, “and we did.”
The schedule for the team continued this week with a matchup in South Jersey against Stockton University on March 8, followed by a trip to Myrtle Beach, SC on Saturday, March 11 to participate in the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic. Momentum is riding high for the team, as first-year catcher Emily Wohlleber noted, “I believe we have an extremely tight bond, and that it will take us far into this season.” Indeed, Stevens softball looks to maintain its presence in MAC and beyond as a force to be reckoned with.
