After splitting its last eight games, the women?s softball team is looking to build on recent success in upcoming competition.
After mixed results at Buffalo State, UR traveled to Union and Hamilton colleges last weekend.
A midweek doubleheader against Cazenovia College topped off the Yellowjacket?s series of eight tough matchups against Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association competition.
Hamilton game
At Hamilton, UR rallied from a 3-2 defeat in the first game to post a 16-6 win in the second Saturday, and won its first game in UCAA competition against Union College the next day.
However, the women fell short in the second half of the doubleheader.
Coming together
Currently the Yellow-jackets are at 5-18 and head coach Kris Shanley is pleased with the way the group has come together as a team.
?Everyone is performing both offensively and defensively ? they?re all relying on one another and not just one person,? Shanley said.
In particular, Shanley has been impres-sed with the performance of junior infielder and co-captain Nellie Coats, who has contributed two home runs and eight RBIs in the past three games, while hitting .393.
Shanley also attributes the team?s recent success to a refined focus on achieving preset goals for each game.
?We have a different focus. We?re breaking the double header into segments and focusing on specific goals,? she said.
?When we achieve these goals we win games.?
Coats agreed with her coach, ?Our attitude has changed a lot and it?s showing on the field. In looking to sweep each double header over splitting the decision, details are key.?
?Out of the four recent losses, each one has only been by one run,? Coats continued. ?We need to find a way to squeeze out that extra run, or break open the score. It?s a matter of focusing on the details.?
This weekend, UR travels to St. John Fisher College for a 3:30 p.m. start Saturday.
The Yellow-jackets will visit Medaille College for a 1 p.m. double-header Sunday.
The team completes its three-day run with a home match at 1 p.m. against defending UCAA champs St. Lawrence at the Graduate Living Center fields Monday.
?We will definitely compete with Fisher and St. Lawrence ? both good teams,? said Shanley. ?The game that scares me the most is Medaille. ?Traditionally they haven?t been very competitive, but you?ve got to push to play a less-skilled team.?
?Saturday is when we will have to show our true colors,? she continued.
