PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. – Trinity Softball would suffer two close losses on Saturday afternoon, including an 11-inning battle with Graceland (Iowa) in non-conference action at the Schaaf Athletic Complex.
Game 1
Graceland 6, Trinity 3
WP: Rebling (3-2) • LP: Halmon (3-6)
• Graceland would strike first in the top of the 2nd, scoring a pair of runs on three hits, before Trinity responded in the bottom half of the frame. Maddy McIntyre's double to lead off the inning resulted in a run-scoring groundout to cut the Yellowjackets' lead to 2-1.
• A grand slam for the visitors in the top of the 5th pushed the lead to 6-1, before the Trolls scored twice, including one run on an RBI double from Guilia Cianfriglia in the bottom of the 5th.
• Trinity would put two runners on base in the bottom of the 7th, but a double play would end the threat, as the Trolls dropped the opener 6-3.
• Cianfriglia finished 2-for-3 with a double and RBI to lead Trinity at the plate. Abbey Kuehner pitched 2.2 innings in relief, allowing just one hit and one walk.
Game 2
Graceland 5, Trinity 4 (11 innings)
WP: Rebling (4-2) • LP: Lorscheider (4-4)
• Graceland took a brief 1-0 lead in the 3rd inning, before the Trolls scored two in the bottom of the 3rd, with an RBI groundout, and a fielding error that allowed Charlie Sartoris to score the go-ahead run, 2-1.
• Erianna Claudio drove in two runs with a two-out single in the bottom of the 4th that brought home Alex Hofman and McIntyre to put Trinity in front, 4-1.
• The Yellowjackets would tie the game in their last at-bat, as a two-out, bases-loaded double would score three runs before the batter made the third out of the inning at third base.
• Trinity would have the winning run in scoring position in each of the next three innings, including a bases loaded opportunity in the 10th inning, but were unable to get across the plate for the win. In the top of the 11th, Graceland would take the lead on an RBI double, and the Trolls would go down in order to close out the day.
• Katie Lorscheider would throw ten innings, allowing just four earned runs and striking out nine. Sartoris finished 4-for-6 with a run scored.