Marquette quiets QND’s offense, leaves Raiders looking to find momentum before postseason

April 30, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor

Quincy Notre Dame's Haley Schertel safely steals second base during Saturday's game against Alton Marquette at The Backyard. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — All the distractions that come with the calendar rolling over from April to May — things like prom, graduation and college commitments — are being magnified by the fact the weather is making it difficult for prep baseball and softball teams to find their rhythm.

The opportunity to build postseason momentum is dwindling, too.

“You have to get on a run,” QND softball coach Eric Orne said. “We’re trying to figure out how to get on that run.”

Saturday’s 2-0 loss to Alton Marquette at the Backyard made that tougher.

Explorers pitcher Lauren Lenihan limited the Raiders to four hits, while striking out 14 and walking five. The Raiders left nine runners on base, including four in scoring position.

“We had way too many at-bats where we just didn’t put the ball into play,” Orne said. “To her credit, she moved it around on us a little bit, something we hadn’t seen this week. I’d just like to see us compete a little harder than we did at times. The first three innings, I didn’t think we competed as hard as we could.”

The Explorers grabbed the lead in the top of the first when a one-out single by Hayley Porter was followed by an RBI double from Lenihan. In the third inning, Carli Foersterling scored on a wild pitch with two outs to make it 2-0.

QND senior Eryn Cornwell snuffed out the other Marquette scoring opportunities. Cornwell allowed two runs and five hits, while striking out five and walking three.

The problem for the Raiders was generating offense. Alyssa Ley doubled and drew two walks in the No. 6 spot in the order, while Haley Schertel went 2 for 3 with a stolen base in the No. 9 spot. The top five in QND’s order were a combined 1 for 15 with nine strikeouts.

“(Ley and Schertel) moved the lineup and gave us the opportunity to get a big hit,” Orne said. “We never came up with that big hit.”

The Raiders (16-5) have seven games scheduled the next weeks to to prepare them for the Class 2A postseason, although Orne said Saturday’s game had a postseason feel.

“That’s what a regional final or a sectional game will be like,” Orne said. “We just didn’t get the job done today.”