March 3, 2007

Orlando, Fla. - By: Carolyn Brown

I didn't have to wake up until 11 this morning and I have to say the extra sleep was greatly appreciated. At 11:45, our team gathered for brunch at Perkins, basically like an IHOP. With a game at 3:00 p.m. we all had to try really hard not to stuff our faces. With so many things to choose from, many chose from the lunch items on the menu, some sticking with breakfast everyone energizing their bodies for the upcoming double header.

Empty stomachs taken care of, the team left Perkins and headed to the cars for the games. On our way out we all got a great laugh in, as Cassie Koenig ate it walking down a hill--arms flying and everything. A good laugh was definitely appreciated.

We head to the field to face our first opponent Eastern Michigan. I have to say they had some big girls on their team. We scored the first run of the game, and after that in the first inning we continued to score more. The score increased to 5-0, and most of us thought we had the game in the bag. However, one bad inning from our end and all of a sudden Eastern was ahead of us 6-5. How did this happen? The game was turning ugly, and we all needed to step up to beat a team that was obviously not as good as we were.

Meghan Morese made us all proud, yet again, as a homerun sailed over the right field fence. A two run homer put us in the lead 7-6, and we were all very excited to be one up against this team. Three outs soon followed and we were on the field getting three outs so we could come in and hit our last at bat.

"Geico, for your money" was cheered from the team in order to help another run cross the plate for insurance. Sheri Donley scored after Cassie hit a grounder that bounced over the third basemen's glove. The score now 8-6, we knew the game was won when we went back onto the field to get the last three outs of the game.

Game number one behind us, our record now 6-0, we now had to face Southern Alabama. Another team with big girls, and nine homeruns already on the season, we knew this was going to be tougher competition. In the first inning we jumped ahead 1-0, only to be tied right after. This game was another ugly game with another ugly inning as Southern Alabama hit three homeruns, and was able to force hit after hit to increase the score 8-1. We were unable to score anymore after the first inning, and the game ended, the most runs scored on us so far this season.

Everyone exhausted after these two games, all we wanted was dinner and a bed. Being a Friday night it was hard to find a restaurant that did not have an hour wait. We ended up at the Longhorn Steakhouse, where they cooked Kat's (Walsh) and my food way too long, so we of course sent it back. After we finally got our food we went back to the hotel. I can't wait to sleep now.

Tomorrow we have games at 1:00 and 5:00 p.m. This will be our toughest day of the tournament as we face Stetson and University of Central Florida. We are definitely going to have to play much better than we played yesterday, and show these teams that we really are as good as our record says. Here we go Wildcats!