Dartmouth softball's winless streak was extended to seven games on Tuesday, as the Lady Green dropped both games of a doubleheader to Albany. The Great Danes came up with two runs in the fifth inning of the first game to overtake the Big Green in the first game and crushed the Dartmouth women in the nightcap with a second inning explosion, 11-3. The losses drop Dartmouth to a meager 3-9-1 on the year.
Angela Megaw '08 dominated the Great Danes for five of the six innings in the first game, allowing only one earned run in the freshman's third start of the year. It was, unfortunately, the team's defense that let them down in a tight game. Dartmouth took an early lead in the top-half of the third inning. Kelly Fry '07 delivered a clutch double to score Lacey Neahr '07, who had singled earlier in the frame. Megaw continued her shutout performance until the bottom of the fifth, when Albany touched the rookie for two hits and one earned run. However, an error in the infield gave the Great Danes a 2-1 lead, one they would not relinquish before the inning was over. "In the games I pitched so far, it came down to one inning where the defense let down," said Megaw after the loss.
After a frustrating defeat earlier in the day, Dartmouth seemed poised for revenge in game two, especially in the second inning. Down 1-0, The Big Green put runners on second and third with one out. Lauren Folger '07 proceeded to smack her first collegiate home run, a three-run shot that gave Dartmouth the 3-1 advantage.
Their lead was short-lived as Albany came roaring back in the bottom-half of the inning abusing the Big Green for seven runs, highlighted by a Kelly Ogden grand slam. Albany would tack on three more later en route to an 11-3 thrashing. Ashley Thorfinnson '07 would record the loss, giving up seven earned runs in an inning and a third.
"In both games as a team we did not execute on defense and we gave away too much," said coach Christine Vogt. "We cannot afford to do that against teams like Albany, and to their credit, they did a good job of taking advantage of our mistakes. Defensive errors have plagued us so far this season."
Megaw agreed, saying, "It's always frustrating to lose, especially when a games is so close. But right now we are working on improving our short game and hopefully this will make our defense more complete."
Despite its early struggles, the Big Green has found reason to remain hopeful. "Our outlook at this point is to continue to improve and compete to our potential," said Vogt.
And as Folger put it, "It is important to remember what our coach has made so clear since our first game in San Jose, Cal. All games before Ivy games are a process." But with the Ivy League season one day away, this process must be quickly completed for Dartmouth to have any shot at post-season play this year.
The Big Green returns to action Saturday, squaring off for a doubleheader against Yale at Sachem Field.
