JOLIET, Ill. – An 8th-inning rally would give Trinity Softball a key victory on Wednesday night, as the Trolls split a doubleheader with St. Francis to remain in an early-season five-way tie for first atop the CCAC standings.
Game 1
Trinity 8, St. Francis 7 (8 innings)
WP: Kuehner (1-0) • LP: Manning (11-5)
HR: TCC • Halmon (2) | USF • Taylor (4), Landeros (3)
• The Trolls would strike first in the top of the 1st, after Charlie Sartoris' leadoff single and a pair of walks loaded the bases. Peyton Lowden would drive in a run on a sac fly to put Trinity ahead early, 1-0.
• St. Francis tied the game in the bottom half of the inning, but Myleigh Halmon's home run in the 3rd gave the Trolls the lead again, 2-1.
• Base hits from Jolie Robertson and Alex Hofman allowed Sartoris to drive in another run in the top of the 4th to extend Trinity's lead, 3-1.
• The Saints battled back in the bottom of the 6th, tying the game on a two-run home run. Both sides would get a runner aboard in the 7th inning but were unable to push across the go-ahead run as the game went into extra innings.
• In the top of the 8th, a pair of two-out RBI singles from Halmon and Giulia Cianfriglia gave Trinity a two-run advantage, 5-3. A home run-saving catch from Anna Lisa Fluder held off the Saints' rally, as the home team would get one run, but leave the game-tying runner in scoring position.
• Abbey Kuehner picks up her first win of the season, throwing two scoreless innings of relief.
• Halmon finished 3-for-5 at the plate, with her second home run of the year and a pair of RBI.
Game 2
St. Francis 6, Trinity 2
WP: Boyle (1-2) • LP: Lorscheider (7-6) • Sv: Manning (2)
HR: TCC • Koontz (2)
• Trinity's offense would struggle in game two, as Robertson's single in the 5th inning would be the team's first base hit of the game. St. Francis would post single runs in the 2nd, 4th, and 5th innings to build a 3-0 lead.
• The Saints would then break through in the bottom of the 6th, scoring three runs on three hits and a pair of Trinity errors.
• After Maddy McIntyre walked in the top of the 7th, the Trolls broke through on Kamryn Koontz' two-run home run to right. Fluder would draw a walk and Hofman recorded a two-out single, but the rally would come up short for the Trolls.
• Lowden pitched an inning and a third without a run allowed. Koontz was one of four Trolls to record a hit in the game, finishing with two RBI and a run scored.
Next Up
• The Trolls look to keep pace among the CCAC leaders on Saturday afternoon, when they host Olivet Nazarene. First pitch from the Schaaf Athletic Complex is set for 1:00 p.m.
