CROWN POINT, Ind. --- After splitting their first two games on Thursday afternoon, the TIU softball team returned to the Crown Point Sportsplex for the second day of the 2021 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) Tournament. Having lost to Olivet Nazarene in the second game yesterday, the Trojans opened up action on Friday morning against the Judson Eagles, a team they edged out by one run this past Monday. 

Hailey Baker started for Trinity in the pitcher's circle against the Eagles, her third start in as many games during this year's conference tournament. Judson would jump out to an early 1-0 lead in the third inning, before the Trojans went to work offensively in the fourth with Dana Percival scoring as Heather Anderson reached first base safely on a fielding error.

One inning later, Kristin Storer scored as Britney Knox reached base on a throwing error by Eagles pitcher Lindsay Zdroik for a 2-1 TIU lead. Percival would cap the fifth inning with a two run single up the left side to score Knox and Lauren Neveau for a 4-1 lead. With the Trinity outfield accounting for nearly a third of outs recorded defensively, the Trojans would hold off Judson despite an additional run scored in the bottom of the fifth for a 4-2 win.

Baker again returned as Trinity's starting pitcher for game two, this time facing off against the Crimson Wave of Calumet St. Joseph. TIU would get help on offense early as Percival would start things off with an RBI single to left field to score Neveau in the top of the first inning, with Brooke Heraty driving in Percival on a single up the middle for a 2-0 lead. Three innings later, Gina Loy contributed to the TIU offense with a single to right to score Alyssa Frey, with Storer bringing in Heather Anderson on a groundout to the pitcher for a 4-0 Trinity lead. 

Momentum would drastically shift in the favor of the Crimson Wave in the fifth inning as CCSJ scored five runs of three hits and an error to take a one run lead. Trinity would get the tying run in scoring position in the top of the seventh, but would be unable to tie the game, falling 5-4 to the Crimson Wave and ending the 2021 season.

ADDITIONAL GAME NOTES

• 2021 marks the first time since 2018 that TIU has won multiple games at the CCAC Tournament.

• With ten total strikeouts in her two starts, Hailey Baker finishes, alongside Alyssa Frey, with 104 total strikeouts this season, tying the program's single season strikeout record with Taylor Carli.

• After her two performances today, Baker passed Grace Magnuson (2017-18) for the fourth most career strikeouts in program history (123).

• With 13 innings pitched inside the pitcher's circle today, Baker ends her TIU career with 141.1 total innings pitched, tied for third most in school history.

• The Trojans improve to 7-24 all-time against Judson with their win on Friday morning. 

• Baker improves to 12-10 following her game one win.

• Baker's win moves her mast

• Having allowed just two earned runs in Friday's opener, Baker's earned run average drops below 3.00 to 2.95.

• Lauren Neveau led Trinity with two hits in three plate appearances against the Eagles, including one walk and one run scored.

• Gina Loy notched her fifth double of the season against Judson. It was also her 13th career double.

• The Trojans fall to 7-20 all-time against Calumet St. Joseph after today's game two loss. The Crimson Wave went 3-0 against TIU this season.

• Baker ends the 2021 season with a final pitching record of 12-11, the second most wins in a season by a Trojan pitcher in team history, second only to Taylor Carli's 19 wins in 2018.

• Brooke Heraty led Trinity with two hits in four plate appearances in game two, including one RBI.

• Neveau's game two double was her fourth of the season, and the 17th and final of her playing career.

The Trojans finish the 2021 season with a final record of 17-22.

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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.