Terrapin softball coach Laura Watten figured it was just a matter of time before the Terps’ offense broke out of its slump. But after a lackluster hitting performance in the Terps’ home-opening series in early March, she was getting impatient.
“These hitters owe these pitchers a whole lot more,” said Watten after the Terps spoiled a near-perfect Maryland Round Robin tournament with a 2-0 loss to in-state rival Towson. “They’re really, really keeping the other team down and really throwing well and doing their job. They’ve earned a whole lot more from this offense than that.”
An out-of-sync offense had cost the team before its loss to the Tigers. Hitters often wasted lights-out pitching performances from Kerry Hickey and Kendra Knight, regularly putting runners in scoring position only to leave them stranded on base.
But even as the Terps’ bats sputtered en route to a 4-6 start, Watten maintained her confidence in the offense coming around.
This past week, it finally did. The Terps (17-9) rewarded Watten’s faith with a seven-game road winning streak, including victories over Big 12 powers No. 18 Oklahoma State and Texas Tech in the University of South Florida’s The Game Tournament in Tampa, Fla. They scored nine or more runs three times and matched lockdown pitching with just enough offense to scratch out nail-biting wins.
Today, they’ll look to bring their hot bats back to Robert E. Taylor Stadium for a doubleheader against James Madison.
The Terps’ offense has come a long way. A roster that, at one time, was filled with struggling hitters now boasts five players batting .300 or better. And while the team’s .258 average puts it in the middle of the pack in the ACC, it’s a far cry from the cellar-dwelling offense that struggled early on.
Instead of shaking up her unproductive lineup, Watten opted to keep it largely intact, hoping it would eventually click. With an improved focus on plate discipline and pitch selection, and a more aggressive offensive approach, the Terps have finally rounded into form.
“The girls are actually making the adjustments and listening to us talk about the different little things they need to do,” Watten said. “They’re not getting frustrated and down on themselves. They’re listening.”
“Everybody [is] coming together and fighting,” said infielder Alex Schultz, whose .375 batting average leads the team and ranks sixth in the ACC. Schultz was named conference player of the week yesterday “We’ve been producing well. Everybody’s been getting the job done when people are on.”
In the wake of a disheartening Feb. 28 9-0 loss to No. 4 Michigan, Schultz proclaimed the offense would break out of its slump, “and it’s not gonna be ever questioned again.”
It may have taken longer than she and Watten would have liked, but they may finally have an answer.
schneider@umdbk.com
