Softball: Hamilton’s confidence back for OU

Chad Washington, The Advertiser, May 30, 2014

UL’s Christina Hamilton pitches against Kentucky during Thursday’s loss in the WCWS opener. (Photo: Associated Press )

OKLAHOMA CITY – Ever since Christina Hamilton’s empty-frame glasses were seen on national television, she has been a celebrity in Lafayette, in college softball and in various places on the internet. But with any new-found stardom, however, often comes new criticism.

In this case, it came from looking in the mirror.

Hamilton was quick to criticize her performance as the UL softball team lost 4-1 to Kentucky on Thursday night to open NCAA Women’s College World Series play. She said she didn’t hit her spots and was able to pitch out of jams like she did in the regionals and super regionals.

But after Friday’s practice, Hamilton seemed more content about her performance.

“I feel like I’m in a pretty good place, the whole team is in a pretty good place,” Hamilton said. “I feel like we’re ready to attack and fight.”

Hamilton gave up only five hits and two earned runs against UK, but three errors – including one by her – resulted in two unearned Wildcat runs scoring and putting the Ragin’ Cajuns in a hole for most of the game.

That and a lack of hitting – UL was held to one hit, a home run by catcher Lexie Elkins – was another reason for a frustrating performance.

“I don’t think she did horrible, she did a decent job,” Elkins said. “She said she didn’t do her best, but we didn’t do our jobs at the plate. Things didn’t go our way. I mean, we had errors on defense and we weren’t hitting. It didn’t go our way and it wasn’t Christina’s fault, by any means.”

Now Hamilton must go in the circle with the season on the line against a team that she had success with in the past. Hamilton dominated Oklahoma in a doubleheader on March 15 at Lamson Park, throwing a one-hitter and a four-hitter as UL swept the Sooners.

Christina knows that this will be a different OU team than the one she faced two-and-a-half months ago, but feels that this is a different UL team as well.

“You can say there’s an advantage, but you can say there’s not an advantage either,” she said. “I mean, they have seen us before, but I don’t think that’s going to help them, you know? I mean, people change and it’s really what you believe. We’re ready to go attack and fight.”

While Hamilton feels ready to go, the real question is if UL beats Oklahoma, it will face either Oregon or Florida that night at 8:30 p.m., and can Hamilton be ready to go and pitch a strong game.

Head coach Michael Lotief is not ready to think about that, yet.

“My mind is not on how do we get to Wednesday (and the championship series),” he said. “My mind is trying to figure out what can we do today to get better. I don’t even know the schedule for tomorrow. “