By Jackson Keenan, Staff
After a rough start to the season the Crusader Softball team looks to stay hot after two series victories as they battle to earn a spot in the American Southwest Conference tournament.
The Crusaders started off their season 4-7 through the first 11 games of the season.
One of the main reasons for the slow start was the Cru schedule in which they faced three nationally ranked opponents in which the Crusaders went a combined 0-3.
Another reason for the slow start is a lack of hitting. In seven of the Crusader losses the offense averaged 2.2 runs and were shut out twice.
After the slow start the Crusaders would gain momentum sweeping Trinity in a double header and beating Howard Payne in a 2-1 series victory.
One of the strongest players for the Cru is junior pitcher Eileigh Whyte. During this stretch of games Whyte pitched in three of the five games winning all three games, while giving up only three runs combined.
The Crusaders hit another bump in the road when they faced No. 18 East Texas Baptist on March 22-23. The Crusaders would struggle in these games getting swept in the three-game series.
The Crusaders next faced Letourneau on March 28-29. The Crusaders would sweep the Yellow Jackets going 3-0 on the weekend including a complete game one-hit shutout by Whyte.
Using this momentum, the Crusaders rolled into Abilene where they won a very important series against Hardin Simmons putting the Crusaders within reaching distance of a ASC tournament berth.
While Whyte is having an outstanding season on the mound other players such as junior infielders Bailey Frenzel and Lindsey Polleschultz are leading the Crusader offense.
Frenzel leads the team in batting average, hits, runs batted in and total bases, while Polleschultz is not far behind. She is second in batting average, hits and on-base percentage.
The Crusaders play a crucial series against UT Dallas this weekend. With a series win the Crusaders will creep closer to gaining a spot in the ASC conference tournament.
