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Box Score 2 MINNEOLA, Fla. -- Trinity International suffered a couple of tough losses as the softball squad opened the 2014 season on Monday morning in Florida, falling to Ave Maria (Fla.) 11-2, then to Marian (Ind.) 15-0.
The Trojans' (0-2) offense got off to a slow start, collecting four hits over both games. After Ave Maria took a 6-0 lead through the first inning and a half, junior outfielder Jaime Weaver tallied the first run of the season for TIU, reaching base in the second inning thanks to a fielding error. The Franklin Park native then cut into the Ave Maria lead after scoring on another three-base error.
Trinity put another run on the board in the third, when Breanna Hansen led off with a bunt single. After a sacrifice bunt fromAshley O'Brien and advancing on a groundout, Hansen then scored after the fourth Gyrene error of the day, making it a 6-2 score after two innings.
Ave Maria's defense tightened up from that point, as the Gyrenes retired eight straight to hold their lead. The game finished early after Ave Maria scored three runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth, to close out the game with the run rule.
Later in the day, the Trojans faced off against the Marian Knights, who are receiving votes in the latest NAIA Coaches' Poll. TIU held the Knights to one run through the first two innings, but Marian took control of the game from then on, scoring three runs in the third, three more in the fourth, and posted an eight-run inning in the fifth to clinch the game. On offense, the Trojans struggled as well, recording one hit in the game and reaching base just three times.
The Trojans will continue their current eight-game Florida swing with matchups against Spring Arbor (Mich.) and Lourdes (Ohio) on Tuesday afternoon. First pitch against the Cougars is set for 4:00 pm Central (5:00 pm Eastern), followed by the game with the Grey Wolves at 6:00 pm Central (7:00 pm Eastern).
