By CHRIS WHITAKER
Americus Times-Recorder
AMERICUS — Megan Wilkinson has delivered again.
Wilkinson had two hits in Saturday's Game 2 against USC
Aiken, and it was her second one that ended the game.
Scoreless through seven innings, Wilkinson roped a two-out
single to right center that scored Jessica Martin as Georgia
Southwestern escaped with a 1-0 win.
It was her second walk-off hit of the season; her three-run home
run beat Emmanuel on Feb. 20.
The Lady Hurricanes (12-23, 2-10 PBC) lost the first game with
Aiken 2-0.
“There's no other way to put it, this is a big win
for us,” said coach Eddie Ward. “We've been so
close, and our team is so much better than what our record
reflects. We have so much better talent, but the execution has been
poor, and I believe quite frankly, our kids have not believed in
themselves. Maybe today they saw it and can believe they can beat
teams in the Peach Belt.”
The win stopped a 5-game skid, but GSW has lost 14 of 16 games.
Aiken (13-14, 5-7) stranded nine in the second game while GSW
left seven on. Neither team got a runner to third in the game until
the eighth.
Jessica Martin (3-7) got the win by pitching a complete game,
allowing five hits.
GSW has averaged 1.7 runs over the last 16 games, and Ward said
his team hasn't gotten the small ball aspect down pat.
“When we get a runner on, we cannot get that sac bunt
down,” he said. “We've worked on it and worked on
it. I think it has to do with pitch selection and a lot to do with
confidence. When we come to the ball park, we need to come
expecting to win. I think our demeanor and the way we have done
things, it's like we expect to lose or we find a way to lose.
I think we may have grown up a little bit in the second game. I saw
in their eyes a determination to win the ball game, and they did
with two outs.”
Mariko Nomura (5-13) pitched the first game, allowing one earned
run on four hits. She is the only pitcher with an earned run
average under 3.00. Ward has used her as much as he can, but said
others have to step up, including Martin.
“The problem with our pitching is we're not spotting
the ball,” he said. “Mariko is the only pitcher who is
consistently hitting her spots. But she doesn't have the
stamina to throw every ball game. We've got to have someone
else. Everybody else has had their fair shot.”
Ward said he went with his gut in Game 2, starting Martin instead
of Nomura.
“Jess is clearly the best pitcher we had last year as far
as results and spotting the ball, but she's struggled this
year,” he said. “I really thought she had the hot hand
today, and she proved it. She kept them off, and her change-up was
off the chain.”
While finishing around the middle of the conference is out of
the question, Ward now looks to be in the top eight to make the
conference tournament with eight PBC games remaining against No. 1
North Georgia, Lander, Armstrong Atlantic and Columbus State.
He said GSW needs to finish ahead of Lander, Columbus State and
Georgia College.
“Our tournament hopes are in our hands,” said Ward.
