Softball season marred by inconsistent play

Following an eight-game losing streak in the beginning of the season, the USD softball team realized that in order to get back on track, they were going to have to find a way to string some victories together.
In a schedule laden with doubleheaders, that meant being able to bring their "A" game from the first pitch of the opening game until the final out of the second.
Getting out of the gates has not been the problem for the lady Toreros in their doubleheaders. However, like a guy stuck in the "friend zone" finishing has proven to be nearly impossible. USD has won the first game of a doubleheader eight times, but they have gone 2-6 in their opportunities to sweep. It is a major reason the team has remained several games under .500 for the past month.
"Our team needs to improve on winning the second game in a double header," junior third baseman Celeste Soto said prior to their road double-dip against conference foe Cal State Bakersfield. "Especially in conference play, we do so well the first game and the second we don't even look like the same team."
USD pulled out a win in their second game on Saturday but it came after dropping the first. In the opener, the Roadrunners took a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Showing a ton of heart, the lady Toreros battled back and eventually tied the game on pitcher Jennifer Ellenbeck's clutch solo shot in the top of the seventh. Unfortunately, the excitement didn't last long. Bakersfield walked off with a win in the bottom of the frame, 4-3. Ellenbeck was saddled with the loss, dropping her to 10-11 on the year.
In the second game, USD once again found itself down in their last at-bat, 6-3. On a hit, a walk and a couple of defensive miscues, USD got the tying run in scoring position with just one out. First baseman Megan Walsh then came up big when she hit a single to centerfield to knot up the game. Pinch hitter Lauren Tomey followed with a sacrifice fly, giving the lady Toreros the lead for good. In the bottom of the inning, pitcher Kaitlyn Healy slammed the door on the Roadrunners as USD won, 7-6.
On the day, Ellenbeck finished 3 for 6 with a homerun, while shortstop Carey Casciola went 2-6 with an RBI and a run scored to lead the lady Toreros' offense.
USD didn't get much help offensively from their cleanup hitter Soto, who went hitless in the two games. A leader on this team in a big-time run producing spot in the lineup, Soto knows she has to pick things up for this team to do anything in the postseason.
"Right now I am struggling a little at the plate," Soto said. "But I have been doing extra work outside of practice so I can start producing again."
With the team sitting at 14-23 overall and 3-5 in league play, Soto clearly isn't the only player on the team who needs to start producing a little more.  Eight games remain on the team's schedule, which leaves USD with plenty of time to right the ship.
Unfortunately, each one of those games is part of a doubleheader. Whether or not the Lady Toreros will turn it around will depend on whether or not they can figure out how to play a full 14 innings.