Waverly catching fly ball
0
Trinity International TIU 2-15, 0-3 CCAC
16
Winner St. Francis (Ill.) USF 16-5, 3-0 CCAC
Trinity International TIU
2-15, 0-3 CCAC
0
Final
16
St. Francis (Ill.) USF
16-5, 3-0 CCAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Trinity International TIU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
St. Francis (Ill.) USF 5 0 0 11 X 16 17 0

W: H. Vachon (9-1) L: Mclntyre, Jenna (1-6)

0
Trinity Internationa TIU 2-16, 0-4 CCAC
14
Winner St. Francis (Ill.) USF 17-5, 4-0 CCAC
Trinity Internationa TIU
2-16, 0-4 CCAC
0
Final
14
St. Francis (Ill.) USF
17-5, 4-0 CCAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Trinity Internationa TIU 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 2
St. Francis (Ill.) USF 5 4 4 1 X 14 15 1

W: J. Closs (2-2) L: Griffith, Ashley (0-1)

Game Recap: Softball | | Ethan Oskroba

Scrappy Trojans put up a fight, are overpowered by conference-leading Saints

JOLIET, IL — The Trojans ran into a buzzsaw on Thursday afternoon, matching up with the CCAC's number one team, the vaunted juggernaut that is St. Francis Fighting Saints, at the Saints' home grounds. Despite some positive contributions, the Trojans were outmuscled by their foe, falling by 16-0 and 14-0 scores in a twinbill.

The Trojans got hit with adversity right from the jump in game one, with a Fighting Saint onslaught netting the home squad a 5-0 first inning lead. While the Trinity offense struggled to get rolling, freshman pitcher Jenna McIntyre showed her resilience, retiring the explosive Saints in order in the second before coaxing an inning-ending double play to strand two runners in the third, while also accounting for the Trojans' first baserunner with a second-inning walk. Unfortunately, the Trojans' impressive spurt would come to an end in the bottom of the fourth, as the Saints solved McIntyre en route to an 11-run frame. McIntyre's freshman counterpart Haley Slaymaker restored order and guided the Trojans through the taxing fourth. The Trojan offense never did find their rhythm in the opener, and were made victims of the run rule after the top of the fifth, dropping the ballgame, 16-0.

The Trojans came out with renewed energy in the nightcap, immediately blitzing their rival in the top of the first as Ashley Griffith found her way aboard via a fielding error before Alayla Thornton drilled a single to left. The first game woes continued to plague the Trojans however, who couldn't turn the early success into a run before conceding a five-spot in the bottom of the inning. Trinity got crafty in the second, attempting to whittle down the deficit with small ball tactics, as Josie Nelson ignited the inning with a walk before being advanced to second on a well-placed sacrifice by Waverly Swanstrom. For the second consecutive inning, the unlucky Trojans couldn't score a runner from second, and they surrendered four more runs in the home half, trailing by a 9-0 margin after two. The Trojans again got traffic on the bases in the third inning, with Griffith beating out a bunt to commence the frame. A few batters later, a Heather Anderson walk again gave the Trojans a scorable baserunner, a threat that was intensified when Anderson and Gigi Redman executed a double steal to advance to second and third, respectively. The Trojans once more couldn't push a run across the plate however, and the Saints ballooned their advantage to 13-0 at the conclusion of the third. Perhaps Trinity's most impressive offensive display came in the fourth, when Nelson gave the Trojans life by cracking a double to center. Swanstrom again presented her proclivity for doing the dirty work to help advance the Trojan cause, rolling a ground ball to the right side to advance Nelson to third. An Isabella Hernandez walk put runners on the corners for the Trojans, but home plate remained an impregnable barrier for the ill-fated Trinity squad, who came up short with runners in scoring position for the fourth consecutive inning. The Saints added one more in the bottom of the fourth before the Trojans finally went in order in the fifth to conclude matters, sealing a 14-0 Fighting Saint victory.

The Trojans fought admirably against one of the CCAC's most well-regarded powerhouses. The middle innings of their game one effort showed their ability to match up with St. Francis' best before they showed a significant improvement at the plate in the second contest. Nelson (1-for-3, double, walk), Thornton (1-for-5), and Griffith (1-for-5) were among the Trojans' top offensive contributors on the day.

Trinity (2-16, 0-4 CCAC) will seek to recharge before another road conference doubleheader on April 4, when they square off the Titans of Indiana University South Bend.
 
 
TIU Trojans

TIU Softball
 

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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