ELGIN, Ill. — On Friday afternoon the Trojans hit the road for a conference match-up against neighboring Judson University. Splitting the doubleheader with the Eagles, TIU garnered their first CCAC win of the season.

Game One: TIU 2, JU 6
Alayla Thornton recorded her 17th hit of the season in the opening inning as Judson kept TIU to one above minimum at the plate. The Eagles then flew ahead with two runs after TIU gave up a pair of errors. 

Back to back singles from Alisyn Fullingim and Jenna McIntyre tied the ball game after Izabella Hernandez took her base to start the frame. A trio of hits from the Eagles pushed them ahead again, leading by three runs to end the second inning.

The Trojans had an opportunity to add to the scoreboard in the top of the third after Thornton grabbed another base hit, followed by Hernandez with the same but the Eagles stuck to the script with the routine pop out to retire the visitors.

Held to just four batters in consecutive innings, Trinity struggled to create offensive momentum in the middle innings of the game while the Eagles seemed to solve pitcher Haley Slaymaker as they collected three hits and two more runs.

Blasting off for the Trojans in the top of the sixth, Alisyn Fullingim smacked her first career home run. Slaymaker took her turn at the mound with two outs and collected a base hit as Gigi Redman followed with a walk behind her. Unfortunately, the Eagle defense wouldn't slack and the two were left on base. Unable to gain any traction in the final inning, TIU lost the first game of the doubleheader.

Game Two: TIU 8, JU 7
Both teams were on lock down through the first two innings with a single hit between them before the Trojans opened the scoring in the top of the third after Gigi Redman walked, then advanced on a wild pitch. A double from Alayla Thornton earned the RBI and lead.

After Redman kept the Eagles to three batters from the circle to close the third, the Trojans scored one more. Waverly Swanstrom connected for a double before crossing the plate on an infield error to increase the Trojans advantage to two. A deluge of hits by Judson in the home half stole the lead for the Eagles, despite the Trojans fielding with precision.

Trinity equalized in the top of the fifth with another hit from Swanstrom. In prime position with two runners in scoring position and one out, hard-hitting Hernandez took the plate but was lined out by the shortstop. The Judson pitcher retired the final out without assistance prior to the Eagles jumping ahead again with a 3 RBI home run in the bottom of the inning.

Collecting three more hits, the Trojans scored two runs in the top of the sixth inning to cut the deficit to one run before Redman retired the Eagles in order to close out the inning.

Facing two outs with one runner on base, Alisyn Fullingim smashed her second home run of the day to retake the lead late in a thrilling comeback for the Trojans. But the Eagles wouldn't stay down without a fight and tied the game to force extra innings with a home run of their own.

Not to be out done, the Trojans collected a second home run, this time from the hands of Alayla Thornton. With Redman still in the circle, the Eagles couldn't muster a response as the Trojan defense held out for their first conference victory.  

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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.