Softball wrapping up most successful season in eight years, falls short of playoff spot

The Ravens, with a record of 14-27, currently sit in fourteenth place in the NE-10 standings.  However, the team is approaching numerous milestones in the win column.  The 14 victories tie Head Coach Richard Hurley's career mark for wins in a season, with two chances to surpass that Saturday.

“Im not worried about myself so much, Im worried about them,” said Hurley.  “This is about them. It always is about them. I love to coach, I love the game, and their success is my success.

The turnaround comes on the heels of a 5 win season last year, third-worst in program history.

“I think [assistant] Coach Conway works hard at it, I think I work hard at it, and I think the players work hard at it.  If you continue to do that, you're going to get good results.”

A win on Saturday would also move the Ravens' conference record to 10 wins, tying the program's all-time mark for wins in any conference.  The team's 1-0 victory at UMass Lowell on April 27 was their ninth against NE-10 competition this season, the most since joining the NE-10 in 2003.

Sweeping Assumption would ensure a new conference wins record, and would also tie the most wins in program record, at 16.  Franklin Pierce Softball has won 16 games in a season three times since its first season in 1989.  Former coaches Mike Pelland, Lauren Hatfield and Frank Steffanides have all achieved the mark.

“I love to win,” said Hurley.  “I'm as competitive as anybody, so we've enjoyed that. We love coming to practice everyday.  We love the kids we've got. They're great young ladies.”

The Ravens were in the hunt for a playoff spot until a recent stretch of hard luck, including a forgettable trip to Connecticut.  The team has lost 9 of its last 10 games, the win at UMass Lowell being the only bright spot.

The season-ending streak started with two losses to Southern New Hampshire University on April 21.  That concluded a two-week home stand for the Ravens that placed them in the middle of the pack.  From there, the team traveled to “the Nutmeg State” for double headers at New Haven and Southern Connecticut State on consecutive days.  They dropped all four games, scoring only three total runs.

“They've had some adversity,” said Hurley.  “We probably didn't fight through some of the adversity like we'd liked to have, but as they get older and mature as softball players, they'll learn how to deal with that adversity and things won't affect them as much.”

The road swing continued at UMass Lowell, a double header that was split over two days due to weather.  The Riverhawks got even on April 29 with an 8-0 victory via the mercy rule.  In between the split, the Ravens dropped two to games at home to third-place Le Moyne on the 28.

“These last couple days have been tough, but we've gotten through it,” said Hurley. “They're sticking together and we're sticking by them.”

Part of the late letdown could be attributed to the team's youth and inexperience with an intensive college schedule: 45 games in a span of two months.  The team welcomed in six freshmen this season, four of whom were immediately called upon to produce as starters.  They joined last season's large incoming class of six sophomores, along with five juniors and only two seniors.

“With a young team its hard to always maintain the focus,” said Hurley.  “The year overall has been really good. We took some baby steps and we got a little further, and next year should be better.”