AURORA, Ill. – The Trolls would face extra innings in both ends of a doubleheader on Wednesday, coming up short in a pair of eight-inning, one-run losses to Clarke (Iowa), 2-1 in the opener and 6-5 in game two.
The Pride would strike first in game one, pushing a run across in the top of the 3rd. Trinity would get off to a slow start at the plate, with two hits over the first five innings, but would tie the game in the bottom of the 6th.
Erianna Claudio's one-out single would set the table for Myleigh Halmon's two-out RBI double, evening the score at 1-1.
In the top of the 8th, Clarke would reclaim the lead, scoring on a double steal. The Trolls would get the tie-breaker runner to third on a sac bunt in the bottom half of the frame, but were unable to bring home the run in the end.
In game two, the Trolls would put up the first run of the contest, after two runners reached base with two outs. Kamryn Koontz's RBI single would score Halmon for the early 1-0 advantage.
Clarke would move back in front in the top of the 3rd, with a grand slam for a 4-1 score. Trinity would respond with a run in the bottom half of the frame, on another RBI single from Koontz. In the bottom of the 4th, the Trolls would tie the game with a run-scoring triple from Claudio, and an RBI single from Halie LaGrange.
Emma Luther would give the Trolls the lead again in the 5th inning, with her first collegiate home run, a solo shot that put Trinity ahead 5-4.
Clarke would tie the game again in the 6th, with a sac fly and would send the game into extras again. The Pride would again score the tie-breaker runner to go back up 6-5. In their last at-bat, Trinity would draw a pair of walks to load the bases, but were unable to push across the game-tying run.
Halmon would pitch the opener, going all eight innings and striking out 13 while not allowing an earned run. In game two, the senior would go 4-for-4 at the plate while playing left field. Claudio would finish the day with three stolen bases.
The Trolls now prepare for the Florida swing, beginning with the Space Coast Spring Games on March 2.
