CROWN POINT, Ind. --- After a 35-game regular season, the TIU softball team travelled to northwest Indiana on Thursday as they began play in the 2021 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) Tournament at the Crown Point Sportsplex. On the first day of the double-elimination tournament, the ninth-seeded Trojans would open the postseason up against the Cardinal Stritch Wolves, who TIU split one game a piece earlier this season.

After their initial morning game time was pushed back due to rain, Hailey Baker entered the pitcher's circle, looking to continue her recent string of strong starts. The right-hander dominated the Wolves in just three innings of work, giving up only two base hits, while the Trinity offense erupted.

In the bottom of the first inning, Dana Percival scored the game's first run on an RBI triple down the right field line to score Britney Knox. Brooke Heraty would drive her ninth double of the season to right-center to bring home Percival for the early 2-0 lead. The Trojans piled on in the second frame with Gina Loy driving in Alyssa Frey on an RBI single, Madison Lenzke scoring on a Kristin Storer triple, and Lauren Neveau extending the TIU lead to six runs on an RBI single up the middle to bring home Storer. 

In her second plate appearance of the inning, with the bases loaded thanks to a Percival single and Heraty walk, Frey launched a crushing grand slam home run to center field, sealing Trinity's control over the game. Cardinal Stritch would be unable to notch another hit after Baker's impressive outing as the Trojans rolled to a ten run victory in their postseason opener.

Game two of the conference tournament would be much more of a challenge as the Trojans took on the top-seeded and reigning CCAC champion Tigers of Olivet Nazarene. Having pitched just three innings in game one, Baker would again start for TIU in the pitching circle. Through the first four innings, Baker looked strong, allowing just one run on two base hits and striking out six.

Starting in the sixth inning, the ONU offensive juggernaut  came to life and rattled four runs off Baker in the sixth, then another eight off of Frey in relief. Trinity would only be able to conjure three total hits while committing seven errors en route to a 13-0 loss.

ADDITIONAL GAME NOTES

• After their win in game one over Cardinal Stritch, the Trojans picked up their ninth win all-time against the Wolves. CSU still leads the all-time series 16-9.

• Hailey Baker improved to 11-9 after her game one victory.

• Thursday's opening game was TIU's first CCAC Tournament win since defeating Saint Ambrose on May 4, 2019, the last time the conference tournament was staged.

• Alyssa Frey's grand slam home run was the first of her career. It was also her first home run of the 2021 season and second of her career.

• Trinity notched four extra base hits in their win over the Wolves, including a double by Brooke Heraty, a pair of triples by Kristin Storer and Dana Percival, and Frey's second inning grand slam home run.

• TIU's eight runs scored in the first inning against CSU were the most scored in a single inning this season.

• The game one win marked TIU's fourth straight, the first time the Trojans have won at least four in a row since late March.

• While much of the TIU lineup struggled in game two, Heraty led the Trojans with two of the team's three hits and nine putouts behind home plate.

• Trinity's game two loss to Olivet Nazarene was plagued with seven total errors, the most allowed by the TIU defense this season.

• Despite a strong early start, Baker took the loss in the pitcher's circle, falling to 11-10 on the season.

• The eight runs scored by the Tigers in the seventh inning are the most TIU has allowed in an inning this season.

• ONU's 17 hits are the most allowed by Trojan pitchers this year.

UP NEXT

The Trojans (16-21) will return to Crown Point tomorrow morning for day two of the CCAC Tournament, where they are one loss away from elimination. TIU will take on the Judson Eagles at 9:00am, with the game being streamed LIVE on the CCSJ Athletics Live Stream.

Visit the 2021 CCAC Softball Tournament website for scores, the schedule, the full bracket, stats and more.

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.