Lincoln, Ill. - Trinity Christian College softball (6-10-1, 2-0 CCAC) opened up CCAC play with a bang. On Saturday, the Trolls beat Lincoln College (7-7, 0-2 CCAC) in both games of a doubleheader. Trinity hung on in game one, 5-4. In the second game, the Trolls smacked 16 hits for a 12-7 victory. 

The day was led by freshman Maddy McIntyre. The centerfielder from Bourbonnais, Ill. went 2-for-3 in game one and came back with a 3-for-4 afternoon in the second game. McIntyre also stole four bases – two bases in each game.

Trinity trailed 3-1 in the fourth inning of the first game, but turned it around with a three-run inning. Lincoln committed five errors for the game – including two in the fourth inning, allowing runs to score. Junior Jordan Jones brought home a run on a ground out making it 3-2. The Trolls tied the score at three on an error. Then it was RBIs from senior Hailey Jurasz and freshman Hannah Camarena to give Trinity a 5-3 lead.

While Jones finished with two RBIs for the game, she also picked up the win on the mound. She went four innings and allowed only three runs. Freshman Myleigh Halmon earned the save. She pitched three innings and allowed only one run out of the bullpen.

In the second game, the Trolls received contributions up and down the lineup as Lincoln struggled defensively. They had four errors in the second game. With Trinity leading 2-1 in the second inning, Halmon doubled to score McIntyre and make it 3-1 Trolls. Then, senior Sydni Mitchell came up and blasted her first home run of the season. The two-run shot gave Trinity a 5-1 advantage. 

After a Lincoln rally made it 5-4 heading to the third, the Trolls offense went back to work. They scored three more runs in the third inning. It was senior Angela Abrand to drive in the first run of the frame with a double. Abrand came up big later in the game. Trinity led 9-6 in the sixth inning, but the senior hit her first home run of the season, a two-run shot, and Trinity led 11-6. 

Abrand ended the game 2-for-5 with three runs and three RBIs.

Halmon worked her magic out of the bullpen again. She earned the win, this time tossing five innings and allowing only three runs. 

NOTES & NUMBERS: 

• While McIntyre had the lone three-hit game of the day, sophomore Jolie Robertson, Camarena, Abrand, Halmon and Jurasz all had two hits in the second game.
• Trinity had just one error on the day. It came in the first game. 

UP NEXT: The Trolls will return to Schaaf Athletic Complex for the first time in 2022 on Tuesday, March 29th. Trinity will host St. Mary-Woods College (12-6) for a doubleheader starting at 3:00 p.m.