Softball looking to shore up defense at South Florida tournament

Soon after the Terrapin softball team's home opener concluded Wednesday evening against East Carolina, a troubling imbalance loomed over the squad on the Robert E. Taylor Stadium scoreboard.

Under the "R" column, a 2 shined brightly. A couple feet to its side, a 5 stood under "E." In a game that coach Laura Watten said had an unprecedented number of mistakes, the Terps' inability to limit errors and produce runs ultimately proved the difference in a 3-2 loss.

While the Terps later won the doubleheader's nightcap against the Pirates, outfielder Vangie Galindo was quick to point out afterward where the Terps need work at this weekend's University of South Florida Tournament, where there they'll play five games in three days.

"Defense," Galindo said. "Just making those simple plays and backing up our pitchers."

In Wednesday's opener, senior pitcher Kerry Hickey pitched well enough to win, only allowing one earned run. However, errors by Hickey and infielder Bree Hanafin, plus three more from shortstop Kathy McLaughlin, led to two unearned runs — enough to turn a win into a loss.

"[Hickey] missed a couple plays, too, herself, and then she's also able to hit so she's got a chance to do something offensively," Watten said.

But despite the errors, Hickey hasn't lost any confidence in herself or in the defense behind her.

"No, it's just stuff happens," she said. "Freak things happen, so all you can do is just worry about the next pitch. I was just trying to keep focus on what was going on."

"It affects her," Watten said, "but Kerry doesn't bother much at all, and our pitching staff doesn't seem to bother much at all. They really kind of stay the course and don't seem really affected."

Despite Wednesday's defensive shortcomings, the emergence of a standout freshman has helped to offset dropoffs in fielding. Entering 2011, the Terps' pitching staff appeared to be a two-headed monster of Hickey and junior Kendra Knight. But newcomer Ashley Czechner is quickly emerging as the third threat for the Terps.

"Each time she's been out there, she's been strong, started out strong," Watten said. "The challenge for her is to absolutely go into those last two innings and be her best. That's going to happen. It's about taking a little bit more time and more endurance, and I think that's all going to shake out just fine."

In the second game, Czechner allowed two runs and left with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh inning of an eventual 4-2 win, but Watten said it's all part of the learning curve.

"Every pitch, you have to be your best, so you're really exerting your best and most energy and all the energy you have on every single pitch," Watten said.

After Wednesday's chilly night in College Park, Watten will look to another weekend in Florida to get her team ready for ACC play, which begins two weeks from tomorrow against Virginia.

"It's another opportunity for us to really get some games in and get some good weather and get out on the field and play some good competition," she said. "Hopefully, we'll come back in a good, positive place and [have] done really well, so we've just got to keep building on the things that we learn."

dgallen@umdbk.com