By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After the No. 17-ranked Washburn University softball team dropped a tough 3-2 first-game decision to Nebraska-Kearney Saturday at Gahnstrom Field, the Ichabods turned to a freshman pitcher to help get them back on track.
Washburn freshman pitcher Sadie Walker turned in a clutch performance in Saturday's 7-0 win over Nebraska-Kearney, improving to 5-3 on the season. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Holton product Sadie Walker was up to the challenge, turning in the best performance of her young college career in a 7-0 win over the Lopers, continuing her progress for the 31-9 Ichabods.
The left-handed Walker, who has settled into a role as the Ichabods' regular second-game starter behind All-American Jaycee Ginter, threw six innings of shutout ball against Nebraska-Kearney to improve to 5-3 while allowing just three hits and one walk and striking out seven. Walker lowered her earned run average to 3.46.
"She did the same thing for us yesterday, which was great,'' Washburn coach Brenda Holaday said of Walker's outing. "And she had a good weekend last weekend for us. We lost the first game at Northwest and won the next. We did win the first game at Mo. West and lost the next one, but she pitched really well and gave us a chance there.''
Walker admits its been an adjustment going from the Class 4A ranks to the MIAA, but is pleased with the progress she's made.
"It definitely takes a bit of acclimating,'' Walker said. "Especially like the fall when we played the jucos I got a little bit of it, but then we hit the heart of the season and next thing you know you're toward the end of the season and you just have to catch up pretty fast.
"I think it's just within the last couple of weeks I've kind of bought into the idea that if an athlete really commits to being mentally tough they're unbeatable. You have to commit to the mental aspect of it.''
Ginter, who has already won 21 games on the year, is a tough act for anyone to follow, particularly when the Ichabods drop the first game as they did on Friday and Saturday.
"I feel a little bit of pressure but I know that my team, after we have a tough conversation in between games, that if I put forth all of my effort that they've got my back in the field and that they'll go up to the plate and adjust what they need to to make things happen.''
Holaday is proud of the way her rookie has performed, particularly of late.
"We've been extending her a little bit each weekend to try to get a little more out of her and keep her focus and endurance up, but she's definitely been a bright spot for us and what we expected,'' Holaday said.
"She's now pitching the way that we expected her to pitch when we came into the season, so I'm really proud of her.''
