DUBUQUE, Iowa --- Five days after opening up Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) play with a doubleheader sweep at Trinity Christian, the TIU softball team returned to action on Thursday afternoon in a non-conference doubleheader at Clarke University (Iowa). Riding their five-game winning streak since the end of their spring break trip in March, the Trojans looked to keep their bats hot as the calendar flipped to April.
Trinity's offense continued it's hot run from last week, with the Trojans scoring two runs in the second inning on a Gina Loy RBI up the middle to score Heather Anderson, and a Kayla Stacy groundout to bring home Madison Lenzke. After Britney Knox, Brooke Hearty and Anderon each drove in a run on a set of RBI singles, TIU cracked the game wide open with four runs in the sixth, with Kristin Stoer notching a single up the middle to score Loy, Knox a two-run base hit to score a pair, and Anderson driving in Knox for Trinity's tenth run of the opener. While Hailey Baker had some difficulty in issuing three walks and allowing five runs off 11 hits in her complete game outing, the Trojans were able to cruise across the finish line for the 10-5 in game one.
In game two, TIU went to work early with two runs in the top of the first inning of an Anderson single to left field to score Storer, and Heraty driving home Lauren Neveau from third base. The Trojans would add three more runs in the fourth inning as Hailey Kuriger crossed home plate on a Dana Percival fielders choice, Waverly Miller reached on an error by the Clarke center fielder to bring Percival home, and Storer cleared the bases on an RBI double to right-center field to score Miller.
Clarke would hang four runs on the board of TIU starter Alyssa Frey in the fifth inning, but wouldn't go any further. With solid command of her pitches, Frey struckout five batters and issued just two walks, with six hits to hold on for her second straight pitching win, as the Trojans completed the series sweep with a 5-4 game two win.
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ADDITIONAL GAME NOTES
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Thursday's doubleheader was the first all-time meeting between TIU and Clarke. After today, the Trojans lead the series 2-0.
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The doubleheader sweep over Clarke marked the sixth and seventh consecutive wins for Trinity, their longest win streak of the season and longest since winning nine straight in April of the 2018 season.
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With the win in game one, Hailey Baker improves to 6-3 on the season, her fifth consecutive pitching victory.
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Britney Knox led TIU with three RBIs in game one with two hits. Heather Anderson notched three hits in four at bats with a pair of RBIs.
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Gina Loy's game one triple was her second of the season. She is the only Trojan to hit a triple this year.
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Alyssa Frey's game two win improves her record to 3-5 on the year.
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Kristin Storer led Trinity with two hits in four plate appearances in game two with an RBI.
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Dana Percival's game two stolen base was the only stolen base by TIU in either game. It was also Percival's first stolen bag of the season.
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UP NEXT
The Trojans (9-7) return to the diamond on Wednesday, April 7 as they host the Olivet Nazarene Tigers in a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) doubleheader at the TIU Softball Field in Deerfield in the first official home games of the season. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00pm CST and can be watched LIVE on the Trojan Sports Network.
Visit TIUtrojans.com to stay up to date with the latest TIU softball news and schedule updates.
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Trinity International University is a comprehensive, national university affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America and located in Bannockburn, Illinois, 25 miles north of Chicago. TIU educates men and women to engage in God's redemptive work in the world by cultivating academic excellence, Christian faithfulness and lifelong learning.
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