The Guilford College softball team lost its first two home games to Kenyon College on March 1. Not only were these games the home opener, but they were also the Quakers’ first losses of the season.

Shiloh Gray, who pitches and plays first base, said the team felt confident heading into the games.

“We played Methodist the day before,” Gray said. “We were on a high, and so I think we were ready, but we were also very tired from playing the two games before.”

Gray said that in the first game, the team had hits, but they weren’t timely.

“We ended up with 12 hits in that game,” Gray said. “But as I said, we didn’t time them up right; we left 10 runners on base throughout the game.”

On the other side, Brooke Goyings, a second baseman, praised the team’s defense.

“We had a pretty solid defense,” Goyings said. “[Kenyon] was just hitting the ball in the holes, and when they get hits, there’s nothing you can really do about it except back it up with your bats. And we just did not.”

The team lost the first game 5-4. Gray said the second game was even more of a struggle.

“We only had six hits and left five runners on base,” Gray said. “We didn’t adjust the way that we needed to.”

Goyings said the team was more aware of where Kenyon’s batters would hit the ball, and defensively, they did not change their strategy much, though they made some minor adjustments.

“We tried to be more selective at the plate,” Goyings said, referring to the second game. “Trying to lay off the junk pitches and get the better ones out of the bat.”

Goyings said that although the team made adjustments, they came too late.

“We couldn’t come back,” Goyings said. “They were a solid team, and we’re a solid team. We just had an off day.”

Gray echoed similar sentiments.

“I think by the second game, we were just down and out,” Gray said. “It was the first game that we had truly lost, and we just didn’t come back from it the way we should have.”

The team lost the second game 10-2.

Still, Gray and Goyings highlighted positive moments.

“In the second game, one of our freshman pitchers started, and she did very well, given that it was her first college game,” Gray said. “She made the adjustments that she needed to make herself, and she did a good job.”

Goyings also reached a personal goal.

“I made a diving play that I’ve been trying to make,” Goyings said. “I felt like it gave us some momentum.”

Before the next matchups, both players said the team is working on timing its hits.

“I think we’re just working on trying to string hits together instead of getting those important hits when no one’s on base,” Goyings said. “When we are in those important situations, making sure that we can come through when it’s needed.”

Goyings also noted personal goals.

“Personally, I’m working on my hitting and my pitch selection,” Goyings said. “Not swinging at the junk pitches, because they look pretty good when they come in. They’re usually not.”

Looking ahead, Gray said she anticipates the challenge of bouncing back.

“I think something to look forward to is the energy that we bring as a team and the talent that we do have,” Gray said.

“We can definitely look forward to seeing improvements and growing as a team, both in our relationship and our performance,” Goyings said.

Goyings added that future wins are likely.

“I think there’s going to be some good things coming from our team this year,” said Goyings. 

Gray shared the same outlook.

“It’s going to be a good season,” said Gray.