NEW MARKET – Tri-West freshman pitcher Audrey Lowry looked nothing like a freshman on Tuesday night as the Southmont softball team was blanked in a 9-0 loss to the Bruins to open Sagamore Conference play.
Lowry ended with a complete game win in which she allowed just four hits while striking out 12.
Defensively Southmont 2-2 (0-1 SAC) also committed six errors. In the first inning Southmont starter Macie Shirk got two quick outs, but an error opened the door for the Bruins who scored three runs in the opening frame and never looked back.
Despite the shutout, Southmont coach Dan Taylor found many positives in the loss.
“We knew they (Tri-West) were a great hitting team coming in and they certainly did that tonight,” he said. “Despite the errors in the infield, I thought our outfielders played really well tracking down some hard hit balls. Overall I was really happy how we battled.”
Lowry has started all of the games for the Bruins who move to 4-1 (1-0 SAC) with the win. The Mounties could never string hits together as she was leaving Southmont hitters guessing all night long.
“She has a deceptive motion with her wind up,” Taylor said of Lowry. “She changed locations and speeds very effectively and our hitters were coming back saying ‘she was never doing the same thing twice’. Her talent was on full display tonight and I think she’ll win many more games this year.”
With the way conference matchups are set this year (back to back days), Taylor knows his team will learn from the loss and come back and be ready for tonight’s rematch.
“Traditionally we have played teams a lot better the second time we’ve seen them,” he said. “I thin our hitters will be more aware tomorrow and know what to expect. That’s all we can do is go out there tomorrow and expect to play competitive ball.”
Southmont is at Tri-West tonight.
