It was a season Jennifer Purcell will remember the rest of her life.
Purcell, a Carson High graduate, just finished her sophomore season at the University of Nevada. All she did was lead the team in average (.412), doubles (19), slugging percentage (.831), walks (20) and on-base percentage (.484), and she was second in runs (31), homers (12) and RBI (40). She was a huge reason why the Wolf Pack went from 16 wins in 2015 to a 32-15 mark this season.
“I knew my freshman season would be a little bit of a struggle adjusting to Division I softball,” said Purcell, who hit .289 with a homer and 14 RBI in 2015. “I was surprised (by this year), but at the same time I wasn’t. I’d been up in the .400s my whole career (in high school and travel ball).
“I had a really good off-season even though I missed some time because of my shoulder injury, and I was really confident going into the season. I thought this was going to be a good season. I finished pretty strong at the end of last season. People may not have been expecting that big of a breakout.”
When you raise your average by more than 100 points, hit 11 more homers and drive in 26 more runs, though, you’ve had a special season.
“What happened was what we’d hoped for when we recruited Jennifer,” Nevada coach Matt Meuchel said. “I’m not surprised, but I was pleasantly surprised at the same time. She had a decent freshman year, but nothing like this season.”
Maturity and a better understanding of the college game have been two keys for Purcell.
“People don’t realize how different it is (to make the transition from high school to college),” she said.
Purcell also managed to put her name out there on a national level with her record-tying performance at the Grizzly Classic. She hit .867 (13-for-15) with two homers and nine RBI in five games. Her 13 straight hits matched the 2010 output by April Setterlund of Boston University, and the 2013 performance by Haley Ward of Norfolk State, She came within an eyelash of having the record to herself when she lined out to left in her 14th at-bat.
“I wouldn’t say it gave me more confidence going into Mountain West,” Purcell said. “It was exciting.”
“You can be in the game for a long time and not see a run like that,” Meuchel said after the tournament. “It was fun for her and fun for her teammates and coaching staff. She was starting to swing it well before that tournament. That was very special to see. She has the confidence that she could do it at this level.”
When a hitter goes on a tear like Purcell did, you would think teams would start to pitch her differently; perhaps more off-speed pitches.
“I didn’t see a lot of off-speed pitches (after the tournament),” Purcell said. “I saw a lot of inside pitches.”
Purcell, working with hitting coach Josh Taylor, changed her stance early in the season. The rest is history.
“He didn’t throw a lot of stuff at me,” Purcell said. “We worked on one thing at a time. I moved up in the box. I think my front foot was about three inches from the line. It really helped.”
“We’re not asking her to work on anything mechanically (in the of-season),” Meuchel said. “She proved she can hit with power to all fields from both sides of the plate (inside and outside pitches).”
Despite her gaudy offensive numbers, Purcell wasn’t a first-team all-MWC selection at first base, however. She was a second-team pick, but was a first-team all-region selection.
“They were going off conference numbers,” said Purcell, who hit .390 in 20 conference games. “I was just happy I got an accolade there. It was a big deal, because some people didn’t get anything.”
Meuchel said Purcell’s season will lead to increased expectations for her junior year.
“Being able to handle the preseason expectations is key,” the Nevada coach said. “People say you did it before and you should be able to do it again. That isn’t always the case.”
Pitchers, especially in the Mountain West Conference, will be pitching much more carefully to Purcell this season. That means taking a walk sometimes instead of trying to make things happen with a bad pitch.
“A walk is just as good as a single,” Purcell said. “I have to stay within myself; stay with my approach and be patient.”
Purcell started last season hitting eighth, but moved up to No. 6 and eventually the fourth spot. She could move up a spot next season, which might give her one more at-bat a game.
“We lost Megan (Sweet) in the three hole,” Purcell said. “My thought is they might move me there. I’m OK with whatever the coaches think is best. I’ll do whatever they want me to do. That’s my mindset.”
Purcell welcomes being the focal point of the offense. She wants to be a difference maker, and Nevada needs her to be just that next season.
