For the past two weeks, Kendra Knight has been nothing short of brilliant.
The senior pitcher has pitched nearly every inning for the Terrapins softball team since April 14, a stretch where the Terps have won seven of eight. When the Terps traveled to Raleigh, N.C., for a weekend series against N.C. State, the story was no different.
She recorded the win in both of the team’s victories against the Wolfpack – a 5-3 win in the opener and a 4-3 win yesterday – and received a no-decision in the team’s 5-4 extra-innings loss Saturday afternoon, despite throwing nine innings.
The only negative in that 7-1 tear? Knight’s workload.
“She’s thrown a lot this year. She wants the ball,” coach Laura Watten said. “She’s driven to lead this team.”
Her success is undeniable, but Watten is growing more concerned over Knight’s possible signs of fatigue. She walked 20 batters in her three starts this weekend, including nine in Saturday’s nightcap.
“She’s had a lot of games and thrown a lot of pitches,” Watten said. “But she’s built up the endurance.”
Knight’s streak of appearances has coincided with a lack of time in the circle for Kaitlyn Schmeiser. The freshman pitcher, who was The Washington Post’s 2011 All-Met Player of the Year, has struggled to maintain consistency all season. After Knight pitched into extra innings on Saturday, Schmeiser entered in the tenth inning and hit a batter with the bases loaded, handing the Wolfpack (22-28, 4-13 ACC) its only win of the series.
“Mentally, she’s got to get stronger and more confident,” Watten said. “She’s got to be able come in and close some games out.”
When Schmeiser was pitching effectively at the start of the season, the duo formed a dynamic one-two punch. But inconsistency from the young hurler has tempered her effectiveness. Now it seems Knight is the only one Watten feels completely confident handing the ball.
Still, Watten won’t completely stray from using Schmeiser.
“We need to keep the faith and stay confident in her,” Watten said. “She’s going to come through.”
The Terps (27-18, 5-7) host Delaware State for a midweek doubleheader before finishing the regular season with ACC series against Boston College and Florida State.
Those eight games will likely determine the Terps’ postseason fate. And if the Terps only have one reliable pitcher to trot out to the circle, all of those games become more difficult.
Especially as the wear and tear on Knight’s arm increases.
“She was working off the adrenaline and hunger,” Watten said. “She’s in a good place, and we’re going to continue to follow that.”
benscher@umdbk.com
