Defensive mistakes plague Archers in doubleheader loss to Waubonsee

Posted: Mar 27, 2016

Shawn Summe had little difficulty breaking down the key elements of Saturday’s doubleheader loss to Waubonsee Community College.

Just two weeks after completing a seven-game winning streak while in South Carolina, the Archers (9-11) have dropped seven of eight games. Five have come by three runs or fewer. Saturday, the Archers fell 4-3 and 8-7, respectively, with a familiar culprit in each loss.

“We just didn’t make routine plays,” Summe said. “In game one, we allow four runs, with none earned. In another game, we don’t make plays and it leads to four runs. If we make a couple plays, we win two games and everybody is having a great Easter.”

The Archers appeared poised for a split of the doubleheader in the fourth inning of Game 2. Kayla McMahon relieved Katie Brinegar with two on and no outs, with the Archers trailing 2-0. She retired the side by inducing a double play grounder and a strikeout. STLCC responded with four runs in the bottom half of the inning to take their first lead. But that lead proved to be short-lived, as a pair of miscues in the top of the fifth allowed Waubonsee to score five times and take a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

“We’re not thinking and we’re not focused,” Summe said. “When we were in South Carolina, we were away from everything and we were just playing softball. Right now, we just aren’t.”

The Archers will return to action on Tuesday, when they travel to Mineral Area Community College. STLCC returns home on March 31 against Three Rivers Community College.