By Will Fairfax
The softball team dropped three out of four games at the Martin Methodist Tournament in Pulaski, Tenn. It was a tough opening weekend for Taylor as they had to face three teams who received votes in the national polls and the other is No. 15 Lindsey Wilson College.
The Trojans suffered back-to-back 8-0 loses against Martin Methodist and Lindsey Wilson on Friday. Taylor didn't score a run that day and was held to three hits in two games.
Junior Emily Tweedy was the only Trojan to get a hit in the first contest, while Tweedy and senior Holly Tomaszewski each got a hit in the second game. Lindsey Wilson has won five straight games to open the season scoring 48 runs in the process.
"I think sometimes when you play really good teams you get more timid and that's what we did, especially the first day out" said Head Coach Brad Bowser. "We just got to learn that we've got to be bold and go get it done day in and day out and not worry about who were playing or how good they are or to let our nerves get the best of us."
Tweedy agreed, saying that her team was anxious to play their first game since last fall.
"Friday was our very first game outside since October," Tweedy said. "It was a rough start, and I think that some of us were very timid and a little bit anxious to play since it was the very first game of the season. We just had a hard time waiting for a pitch that we wanted to hit. We also watched too many pitches go by instead of just being aggressive and hitting the ball."
Taylor turned things around on Saturday as they got their first victory of the season against Campbellsville 5-4.
The Trojans offense got going with 10 hits, led by Tweedy who went 2-3, scoring one run. Freshman Erin Tice also went 2-3, scoring two runs.
Freshman Ashley Miller picked up her first victory in a Trojan uniform, pitching a complete game and giving up just four runs.
In the final game against Georgetown, the Trojans took another hard loss. They were down 6-1 with the bases loaded in the top of the 7th but were only able to score one run and fell 6-2.
Junior Karon Earley had an excellent game, going 2-3 including her first home run of the season. She had five last season.
Bowser was proud of his team's performance on Saturday, especially against such strong competition.
"They're all going to be competing to be in the national tournament this year and so for us we wanted to go compete," Bowser said. "The girls … were way too timid on Friday. They came out and were a lot more aggressive on Saturday and did a great job. I was impressed by the way we showed up on Saturday."
Tweedy said that despite the setback, her team learned a lot and could be a special team.
"We can definitely be that next 'great team,' but it all comes back to attacking the ball, living in freedom, and being confident in our abilities," Tweedy said. "We have a very solid lineup, as well as a very talented team."
Bowser said that at the end of the day, his team just needs to go out and play.
"I think the biggest takeaway for us is we've got to be aggressive, we've got to attack the ball, we've got to play with more freedom," he said. "We've got to quit thinking about every little thing that goes on and just go out and play."
Taylor will head south again Feb. 23 to face Brescia in Owensboro, Ky.
