Softball
 

March 7, 2008

Trinity Sweeps Doubleheader From St. Scholastica

Trinity (3-9) won 9-8 in extra innings in the opener, then earned the year's first shutout with a 7-0 win in the finale.  The Tigers pounded out 22 hits in the two games - including six extra-base hits.

Both teams scored a run in the first inning to open the game, then Trinity added another run in the third to take its first lead.  Just as quickly, though, St. Scholastica tied the game again in the fourth. 

It was then that the Tigers seemed to take control of the game, scoring four runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 6-2 lead.  St. Scholastica, which has not won a game this year, refused to go away quietly in this game, scoring three runs in the fifth to cut the lead to just one.

Trinity scored again in the fifth to make it 7-5, but St. Scholastica then reclaimed the lead with its second straight three-run inning in the sixth.  The Tigers would also not be denied, though, tying the game in the bottom of the inning.  Trinity could not end it in the seventh, leaving two runners on in the inning. 

The teams would employ the International Tiebreaker Rule to start the extra innings, placing a runner on second to open each half-inning.  In the eighth, Kate Wright came on to pitch, and after a wild pitch advanced the runner to third, she struck out the side to end the scoring threat and send the game to the bottom of the eighth. 

After Michelle Gossein started the inning by taking two pitches for balls, she was intentionally walked to put runners on first and second.  Caitlin Richards then singled through the left side to score Jamie Williams with the winning run.  Williams scored three runs in the game for the Tigers.

Richards went 2-5 with one run and two RBI, while Gossein finished 3-4 with two runs scored.  Also with three hits in the opener was Lee Smith.  Smith was 3-4 with four RBI in the game.

Kate Wright was 2-4 with two runs, while Karen Fisher finished with two hits as well.  Wright hit her second homer of the season as well.

In game two, Trinity scored a run in the second to open the scoring, then added two more runs in the third.  It turned out to be more than enough as Tiger starter Karen Fisher (1-4) threw a three-hit shutout to earn the win, striking out five. 

Williams was 1-3 with three RBI and two runs scored, cracking a triple in the sixth inning.  The Tigers scored four runs in the sixth to finish the scoring in the game.

Trinity returns to action at the SCAC Crossover Tournament on March 14-16 in Ridgeland, Mississippi.  The Tigers open play against Piedmont and Louisiana College on Friday afternoon.