The Violets have gained 12 of their final 14 video games.
NYU’s softball crew is on run to this point for the second half of its season. (Courtesy of NYU Athletics)
As NYU’s softball crew slides into the second half of the season, confidence and efficiency proceed to reign. After a 17-20 end final season, the Violets are off to a sizzling begin across the diamond with a file of 13-5.
Bouncing again after a three-loss skid to begin the season, the crew went undefeated on the Gene Cusic Collegiate Traditional in March. In a formidable 10-game profitable streak, the bats have been fired up, and the crew totaled 61 runs whereas solely letting up 11.
Across the mound, pitchers Emily Stone and Marina Egbert have dealt with the heavy lifting throughout the Violets’ victories. At present sitting at 1.22 ERA, Stone has delivered stone-cold pitches to opposing gamers, with eight strikeouts and an undefeated recreation file. On prime of this, in her 5 appearances, she solely allowed 4 runs, making it even simpler for the bats to warmth up. Including to Stone’s stoic begin, the bullpen contains Egbert, a sophomore who has began seven video games and boasts a 1.63 ERA. Alongside along with her 27-strikeout depend, Egbert pitched a one-run recreation in the course of the Violets’ streak in opposition to the College of Wisconsin-Superior.
“Our protection, significantly our infield, is completely spectacular this 12 months,” Egbert mentioned. “I’ve a lot confidence in my fielders that I don’t really feel the should be excellent on a regular basis and strike everybody out. Often when I’m simply pitching I don’t like to speak to anybody within the dugout and simply need to concentrate on protection, however hitting has pressured me to consider the sport extra comprehensively, fairly than simply about protection.”
With such an inviting tradition, the crew has relieved lots of strain for gamers in tense positions, permitting them to assume freely and carry out exceptionally.
And the ability doesn’t simply cease on the mound. The squad has seen immense enhancements in its lineup, and it’s actually exhibiting on the scorecard. The Violets have totaled 86 runs in 18 video games, and have seen the bases fairly a bit with an distinctive 152 hits. The season has seen all kinds of scores however has encountered 10-0, 8-0, and 9-1 spreads in opposition to numerous groups on their Florida journey.
Accompanying this crew effort have been some historic particular person performances from the crew’s gifted roster. After lots of final 12 months’s leaders graduated, new gamers entered the scoreboard and are rapidly making names for themselves. Newer gamers like first-year infielder Emma Aridi and switch infielder Margaux Lesser have had snug begins to the season, batting a .339 and .417 AVG respectively. Not solely have newcomers proven up — veteran management has additionally been translated via senior Chloe Blanc and junior Madi Hand’s stellar performances. In 47 at-bats, Blanc has totaled a .380 OBP, whereas Hand leads the crew with 13 RBIs in 52 appearances.
Whereas the entire crew has actually caught fireplace, one participant particularly has constantly produced dominant numbers this season. Sophomore outfielder Sophia Leon has made a press release by main the crew each in runs and in batting common. Leon stood out within the Violets’ recreation in opposition to Alfred State Faculty, the place she went 4-4 and produced three hits with two RBIs. Though she has missed some video games, Leon’s efficiency is strongly backed by a lineup that by no means takes their toes off the gasoline.
Trying forward, the Violets look to copy their spring break efficiency. With the College Athletic Affiliation being so aggressive, the lineup hopes to keep up a rhythm for every recreation, and hopefully complete related statistics to the crew’s 10-game streak.
“Our convention is the hardest within the nation, so with the ability to discover our crew identification early on was actually essential,” Egbert mentioned. “For the remainder of the season, we shall be counting on our protection, pitching and getting key hits on the proper time. We have now a lot confidence in ourselves and our means to win.”
Not solely is the expertise clearly showcased every day, however the confidence the crew always performs with is really particular. By establishing a standard objective so early, the crew’s chemistry has grown exponentially, and so they’ve been robust to take down for the primary half of the season.
Coming into convention play, the Violets look to enhance on an total 7-10 convention file from final 12 months’s season. In such a aggressive part, NYU will face UAA play in opposition to groups like Carnegie Mellon College, Brandeis College, Emory College and Case Western Reserve College, in hopes of gaining a playoff bid.
Contact Malone Lohmann at [email protected]