During her softball career at San Diego State, senior pitcher Samantha Beasley has experienced an abundance of success on the mound. She is first in the SDSU softball record books for strikeouts (760) and total shutouts since 1983 (36). She is also second in saves and third in career wins. Dominating the pitcher’s circle is nothing new for Beasley.
But her final season isn’t going the way anybody expected.
After last year, when she was named Mountain West Conference Pitcher of the Year and earned third team All-American honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association, the sky was the limit for Beasley.
She owns a 9-6 record this season with a 3.46 ERA and 109 strikeouts. But this is following her junior campaign where she went 29-11, had a 1.20 ERA and struck out 354 batters.
With five games left in the regular season, Beasley’s career as an Aztec is coming to an end. Even though her four-year stay at SDSU has been one of the most successful of any pitcher to step foot on campus, Beasley admitted she doesn’t like the way her year has unfolded.
“I’m disappointed with the way my senior year has been going,” Beasley said. “It sucks. I don’t want my career as an Aztec to end like this. I don’t want this to be the end of softball for me.”
She has struggled to find the formula that worked so well for her last year, and head coach Kathy Van Wyk is hoping her star pitcher can find a way to regain her form.
“I would love for her to find herself,” Van Wyk said. “With Sam, I think she wants it almost too much. She is thinking too much out there.”
The head coach also noted she has worked with Beasley in an attempt to get her back on track.
“We have tried everything,” Van Wyk said. “We’ve tinkered with mechanics, self-talk, working on rhythm. Sam just has to find the confidence and just do it. There are no magic solutions.”
After going through struggles of her own last year, junior pitcher Bailey Micetich knows what it’s like to be in Beasley’s shoes.
Micetich was blunt when asked how it feels to go through a slump.
“It definitely sucks to struggle,” Micetich said. “You want to do good for the team but can’t. You just have to come out with the attitude that you can do it and will do it.”
Micetich has bounced back from her struggles and expects her teammate to do the same.
“She’s struggled in the beginning,” Micetich said. “But there’s still some time for her to do what she did last year.”
Beasley noted she is continuing to work hard despite her struggles. For now, she just wants to end the season on a positive note.
“I want to finish the year as strong as possible,” Beasley said. “I’ve been struggling a lot on the mound so hopefully my hard work pays off.”
Beasley isn’t alone. Her coach and teammates share the same sentiments and want to see her end the season as best as she can.
“We’re absolutely going to need her,” Van Wyk said. “We’re a better team with those two pitchers (Beasley and Micetich) throwing strong.”
“She’ll definitely bounce back,” Micetich said. “She’s a great pitcher. I have her back, just like she had mine last year.”
AT GLANCE:
When: Saturday
Where: Las Vegas
Why to watch: The Aztecs are attempting to bounce back from a lost weekend in Utah, where they lost 4-2 to BYU last Thursday and had a two-game series against Utah canceled because of inclement weather.
