HNU Finds Success and Challenge in So Cal

The Spring Break trip for Softball to So Cal has been very different so far than the the trip in mid-February. February found the Hawks playing games outside on the diamond for the first time all Spring because of the rainy season, with a tough schedule against perennial GSAC powers Azusa Pacific, Biola, Vanguard and CSU-San Marcos. Although that trip generated some much needed game-time and some notable efforts (one win against Vanguard and two tough 2-0 games), it left the Hawks scrambling with a 1-7 record to start the year.

Recovering from that start had the Hawks on a 5 game Cal Pac Conference winning streak at one point before falling to Bethany prior to this week's Sun West Tournament in Anaheim. Monday found the Hawks ready to play and were rewarded for their efforts downing two Midwest teams, Rio Grande (OH) 5-0 and Greenville (IL) 8-0 (5 innings). The warm southern California sun encouraged hot bats as the team, met and defeated Doane (NE) 12-7 Tuesday, with 3 homeruns with runners on by Racheal Martinez, Jessica Merriam and pitcher Stephani Fairclough. In the second game Tuesday HNU met #2 ranked Point Loma Nazarene, dropping the game 10-1. The Hawks had gone cold at the plate and struggled to recover from walks from the mound and errors in the field.

Wednesday is a day off for HNU, with team members making their way to Disneyland, American Idol or just hanging out. Thursday will find the Hawks back to work against Tufts (MA) and Grinnell (IA) and closing out the tournament on Friday against Hamline (MN) and Carleton (MN) before heading back to the Bay Area and continued Cal Pac play.