Two games into the softball team's weekend, the Cardinals' prospects for success were slim.
On Friday, the team lost 6-5 on a three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning in the first of two games at Akron, and then dropped the second game in an 8-1 blowout.
Things changed dramatically on Sunday, as the Cardinals (11-12, 3-4 Mid-American Conference) righted their ship behind the strong left arm of Randi Freese, taking two victories from Kent State, 3-0 in the first game, and 2-1 in eight innings in the second game.
"This was huge for us," head coach Terri Laux said. "It's great to see this team bounce back, especially after two tough losses on Friday. We came back with some great intensity and beat a very good Kent State team. I was happy with our ability to stay in it mentally. This is where we want to be and where we want to stay."
The Cardinals' success on Sunday was due largely to Freese. The sophomore ace pitched a complete-game shutout in the first game of the doubleheader, then returned in the fifth inning of the second game to pitch the final four innings and pick up the win. Freese (4-5) struck out 10 Kent State batters on the day and scattered five hits through 11 innings of work.
"I told Randi (Saturday) we would probably use her a lot (Sunday)," Laux said. "She did an incredible job. They had a hard time adjusting to her."
"We just knew we had to come back and get these two wins," Freese said. "The two losses on Friday were a big upset, but we knew we were better than Kent and came out and showed it."
As dramatic as Friday's final-inning loss to Akron was, the Cardinals' victory in Sunday's second game was just as exciting.
With the bases loaded in the eighth inning, senior Carrie Lively lofted a fly ball into shallow right field. The ball dropped in front of the Kent State outfielder who picked it up but did not make a throw to home. Junior Janice Campbell crossed the plate with the winning run.
"It was a mental mistake in our favor," Lively said. "She would have had a close play if she made a throw. I don't think she would have had me at first base, but she could have had a play at home. We came out with the mindset today that we're not getting swept this weekend and we're not going to give up. We got it done and now we're going to build off this."
The Cardinals return to action on Tuesday, when they take a break from conference play to face in-state rival Purdue in a doubleheader.
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