Brittney Horan proves crucial at plate in softball's weekend sweep
Junior Brittney Horan put up a solid weekend in four Mid-American Conference victories against Northern Illinois and Western Michigan.
She ended the weekend with four RBIs, giving her 20 on the season, while batting .307 in four games.
"Brittney had some outstanding hits for us in key situations," said head coach Margo Jonker. "When we really needed someone to come through, she was one of those players who did."
She helped pile on vital runs on Friday, in what would prove to be a close game against Northern Illinois. CMU led 2-0 entering the top of the fifth inning. With no runners on, she connected with a pitch that she launched over the left field fence to extend the Chippewas’ lead by three.
"I was just going up there to try to hit the ball," Horan said. "If it goes over the fence, it feels good, but I'm not trying to go up there to hit one every time."
Horan’s solo homer brings her total to three home runs on the season.
She continued to extend the lead in the sixth inning. With one out and the bases loaded, she grounded out to third base but earned an RBI after scoring sophomore CarolAnn Sexauer on the play.
The Huskies remained scoreless until the sixth, putting up a tame single run before turning up the heat with five runs in the bottom of the seventh. It would not be enough, ending the game 7-6.
Over the last seven games, entering play against Western Michigan, Horan was hitting .444 with 16 RBIs. She was one of only three players to earn a hit against the Broncos in their first meeting on Sunday.
Broncos pitcher Becca Shemberger kept CMU from making contact but gave up 10 walks that opened important scoring opportunities.
Horan would earn her third RBI of the weekend from such a scenario. Up 4-0 in the top of the seventh inning, freshman Trista Cox advanced to first on a walk. Freshman pinch runner Taylor Waters replaced Cox on the base path and scored the Chippewas’ final run from a single on a line up the middle by Horan.
Senior Kara Dornbos shut out the Broncos, and the final score stood 5-0.
In the second game, the team would once again take a commanding lead. Horan added to a three-run rally in the fourth inning with her fourth RBI of the weekend.
She battled in a full count with a runner on third, finally hitting a single to center field in her only hit of the game.
"I wanted to focus on hitting the ball better," Horan said. "I feel more confident than I have been, and just getting hits keeps me going at the plate"
