It was a trip many of us might like to take.

As the norm, the Bowdoin College softball team headed south in early March for a 16-game schedule in Florida, competing against several northern teams along the way, also looking to get away from the cold winter and into the warm sunshine and competition.

The Polar Bears came home with a solid 11-5 mark, including capturing four of their final five games. Bowdoin was scheduled to head to Hartford, Conn., for a three-game weekend New England Small College Athletic Conference Eastern Division series with Trinity, but unplayable field conditions but the kibosh on that, an occurrence that happens far too often in New England in March and early April.

This upcoming weekend, the Polar Bears are slated to take on Bates College in a three-game set, beginning Friday at Lewiston with a single game at 5:30 p.m. The Saturday noon-time doubleheader slated for Pickard Softball Field at Bowdoin has been moved to Lewiston, with the Polar Bears serving as the home team. On Tuesday, the Bobcats’ field was relatively clear of the white stuff.

“Not playing Trinity last weekend was a major letdown,” said Bowdoin coach Ryan Sullivan, whose team has practiced inside Farley Field House since returning home March 21. “We gave the players a couple days off to catch up on rest and academics. Our mindset was to get back home and inside. We are fortunate to have such a great facility to practice in.”

If the weather cooperates and the snow currently inhabiting Pickard Field is able to melt, Bowdoin will host 11 games the rest of the way, including a potential key three-game set with twotime Division III national champion Tufts April 10-11. Also scheduled to visit Pickard Field are St. Joseph’s (April 14, doubleheader), Colby (April 17), the University of New England (April 22, doubleheader) and Husson (April 26, doubleheader).

Florida swing

Julia Geaumont led Bowdoin in both hitting and pitching at Clermont, Fla. At the plate, the junior was 20-for-43 (.465 average), with 10 runs scored, two doubles, two home runs and 12 RBIs. On the mound, Geaumont was 5-2 with a 2.45 earnedrun average in 51.1 innings pitched. She struck out 31 and walked 15.

“Julia has become a major piece of what we do,” said Sullivan. “She had a great trip, solidifying the numberthree spot in our lineup. In the circle, she is huge and has taken a big step forward. The team really rallies around her. She truly pitched better than her 5-2 record.”

Bowdoin, which left Florida with a solid .315 team batting average, also received solid efforts from senior outfielder Victoria Rusch (.407, five runs scored), sophomore shortstop Marisa O’Toole (.396, seven runs, six doubles, 11 RBIs), senior outfielder Cielle Collins (.395, nine RBIs), sophomore outfielder Emily Griffin (.313, 14 runs, five stolen bases), junior first baseman Katie Gately (.269, 12 runs, 13 RBIs) and senior third baseman Adriane Krul (11 runs, eight RBIs, five doubles).

Freshman Jordan Gowdy showed her versatility, playing in the outfield and behind the plate, hitting .250 with 11 runs and three stolen bases.

“We were consistent throughout the lineup and started off well,” said Sullivan. “I was most encouraged that we had a lot of different contributors. We were able to shuffle the lineup around, and in several instances the 7-8-9 hitters stepped up, then the next game the 2-3-4 hitters. We have good depth.”

Sophomore Alana Luzzio was 2-1 on the mound with a 3.36 ERA, 20 strikeouts and 17 walks in 25 innings, while Griffin was 4-2 with a 3.61 ERA in 33 innings, with 30 punchouts and 21 walks. Polar Bear pitchers combined on a 3.01 ERA while holding opponents to a .245 batting average. The pitching staff struggled early in the trip with walks, but Sullivan saw his staff around the plate more often toward the end of the Florida visit.

“When coaching, you are looking for a ratio that is higher in strikeouts and lower in walks,” said the coach. “Early on, Alana and Emily were trying to be too perfect and nibble the corners. They got to the point that they began throwing more strikes. The back end of the trip was much better. The catchers sometimes get half the blame when pitchers are walking hitters, so we have talked to them and the ratio certainly improved.”

Now comes the challenging part of the schedule for the Polar Bears. From here, the 12 NESCAC Eastern Division games (three each against Trinity, Tufts, Bates and Colby) will determine if the Polar Bears advance to their fourth straight conference postseason. Only two of the five teams in the NESCAC East and West divisions advance, so there is little room for a bad weekend.

“You pretty much have to win nine of your 12 league games, and after that you need help,” said Sullivan, whose Polar Bears finished second in the East last season after going 24-14 overall, 8-4 in the conference. The bats went stagnant in shutout losses to host Williams and Middlebury, ending the season for the Polar Bears. “Every team is solid. Bates and Colby games are always competitive, Tufts is the twotime national champ. Every weekend series is a tough set of games. We never take an opponent lightly, and our focus this weekend is on Bates.”