Weather, injuries leave softball struggling

This weekend, the Lions softball team will travel to Edmond, Okla., to play Southwest Oklahoma State University for two games today and two games tomorrow against the University of Central Oklahoma.

Last season, the Lions had trouble scoring runs.

Junior catcher Angie Turner was consistently being walked since she was widely considered the only threat in the Lions’ lineup.

That is why when people mention freshman first baseman Megan Roark they can see a small smile crawl across Head Coach Aron Potter’s face.

“The big thing with Megan is that she hits left handed and that is awkward for pitchers,” Potter said of her new clean up hitter.

“Last season, teams would walk Angie and when Racheal (Bowen) did a good job, they would walk her to,” Potter said. “This year you’ve got Megan there and then (Julie) Taylor and then Andrea (Childs).”

The problem so far has been injuries.

“I don’t like to use this but, we are beat up right now,” Potter said.

On the pitching staff, senior Tamika Barnes and sophomore Kelli Bax return from last year. So far, Bax is 1-5 with 22 strikeouts and Barnes is 1-6 with a team-leading 32 strikeouts.

Potter is on the regional selection committee this season in addition to her coaching duties.

“I don’t schedule us to finish 45-2, in the MIAA you’re not going to finish there anyway,” said Potter.

The Lions have scored three or less runs 10 times this season out of 24 games. They have one victory in those 10 games, but five overall.

“A lot of people say it’s our defense,” said freshman utility player Lauren Hasty. “You can’t win games unless you score runs, a lot of runs.”

Weather has also been a cause for the Lions’ struggle. Inclement weather cancelled Monday’s game against Southwest Baptist University.