Aurora, Ill. - After dropping the first game of the doubleheader, Trinity Christian College softball (1-3, 0-0 CCAC) stole the second game over University of St. Francis (Ind.) in walk-off fashion. Freshman Maddy McIntyre sprinted home on a passed ball to score the winning run and give the Trolls their first win of the season.

In the first game of the doubleheader, freshman Myleigh Halmon earned the start in the circle and went three innings allowing three runs. In the fourth inning, a leadoff home run from the Cougars Abby Erwin started a five run fourth inning. The Trolls committed two costly errors in the frame and trailed 8-0. Trinity didn't quit though. Freshman Jenna O'Brien came off the bench with a big pinch-hit single to score the first run of the game. 

In the sixth inning, O'Brien doubled home another run and junior Jordan Jones grounded out to make it an 8-3 game. The Trolls tacked on one more run in the 7th inning on a Halmon double, but that was all the Trolls could muster up falling 8-4 in game one.

In game two, sophomore Madi De Graaf got the start and kept St. Francis off the board in the first inning. The Trinity offense got hot in the second inning. A single from freshman Alex Hofman started the scoring. Then it was a double from sophomore Jolie Robertson to extend the lead to 2-0. The Trolls tacked another run on an error. De Graaf then placed a perfect bunt to add one more. The Trolls led 4-0 after two innings.

In the fourth inning St. Francis scored four times to tie the game. O'Brien responded on her own with a triple in the home half of the fourth, and the Trolls took back the lead, 5-4. In the fifth inning, St. Francis scored twice to take their first lead of the game at 6-5. In the home-half, another Cougar error allowed the Trolls to tie the game at six. After a quick inning for Jones in the circle in the top of the seventh, McIntyre led the seventh inning off with a single. 

McIntyre then stole second and advanced to third base on a groundout from senior Alyssa Martin. Halmon came to the plate and fell behind in the count. She eventually worked a walk, and on the final pitch the ball snuck away from the catcher allowing McIntyre to score and win the game.

NOTES & NUMBERS:

• Jones put together a memorable performance out of the Trolls bullpen in game two. She went three innings, allowing one run and she struck out two. 
• Senior Angela Abrand made a handful of great defensive plays and scored two runs on offense in game two. 
• McIntyre is off to a great start in 2022. She is now hitting .333 in her first four games this year. Yesterday, she went 1-for-4 in both games. 
• O'Brien delivered a great performance at the plate. She went 2-for-2 with two RBIs in game one and went 1-for-3 with one RBI in game two. Two of her three hits were extra base hits. 

UP NEXT: The Trolls will get set for 10 games in five days as they head to Kissimmee, Florida on March 5th. Trinity will take on Florida National in their opening game of "The Spring Games."