The SAU Tech Lady Rockets started the 2023 college softball season 3-1 which includes two wins in the double-header against Mississippi Delta. The Lady Rockets had a strong start to the season due to the early impact of several of their freshman.
One of the biggest problems of the Lady Rockets is their ability to hold on to momentum, the long timeframe in-between games is a big factor. After the doubleheader at home versus Mississippi Delta on Feb. 6, the Lady Rockets had to wait nine days for a road doubleheader at Williams Baptist University on Feb. 15. Following that game, SAU Tech had to wait eight more days to go on the road to take on Eastern Oklahoma State on Feb. 23. They lost game one 15-0 and then lost game two 13-4.
The Lady Rockets didn't play another set of games for almost three weeks until they went on the road to take on the National Park College Lady NightHawks on Mar. 14. SAU Tech lost the first game 4-0 as the Lady Rockets were only able to get on base three times. In the following game, the Lady Rockets were able to establish some rhythm in the batting game, but their defense suffered. SAU Tech allowed National Park to account for 12 base hits and nine runs as the Lady NightHawks won 9-2.
SAU Tech didn't have to wait long for its next game as they went back to East Camden to host a doubleheader the following day against the SouthArk Lady Stars. The Lady Rockets had a frustrating pitching and fielding performance in game one as they allowed 13 hits, four walks and nine runs while only delivering two strikeouts. As a team, the Lady Rockets accounted for seven hits and eight runs and only struck out three times.
After being held to 9-2 at the bottom of the seventh inning, the Lady Rockets developed an impressive rhythm at the plate. Their impressive batting rhythm was halted at six, one short of tying the game. Sophomore Morgan Cruse accounted for two runs, two hits and one walk in three at-bats.
The Lady Rockets looked to rebound their tough break by defeating the Lady Stars in the second game of the doubleheader. They started off with a 5-0 through the first two innings. The Lady Rockets had won their first game in a month by defeating the Lady Stars 7-3 in game two.
Sophomore Raley Sullivan had one of her best pitching performances of the season as she held an efficient Lady Stars batting team to only three runs in five innings pitched. Cruse had another solid game as she accounted for two runs, two hits and two RBIs in four at-bat appearances.
The SAU Tech Lady Rockets (4-6; 1-3 in conference play) finally get their first win in a month as well as their first conference game this season. They are a team that has overcome some tough obstacles such as long waits in-between games, inconsistencies and fielding frustrations to help them bounce back in the second game versus SouthArk. The Lady Rockets will look to continue their winning ways as they take on a tough UA Rich Mountain Lady Bucks (13-9; 2-0) at home in a doubleheader this upcoming Saturday, Mar. 25.