This past weekend the Trinity softball team went 3-1 against Austin College.
“The fact that we lost our first game and were able to come back and win our next three shows a real sign of character,” said head coach Selena Collins. “It was good that they were able to turn it around and come together as a team and put together three wins in a row.”
Trinity lost their first game 2-1 on Friday evening, marking their first conference loss this season.
“We made some defensive errors; we didn’t really hit the way we should have,” said sophomore third baseman Kayleigh Kinlaw. “We were mediocre, and we didn’t play to our level.”
Junior pitcher Sydney Friday allowed two unearned runs on six hits and struck out four. Junior outfielder Lindsay Weyand went 2-3 at the plate, while junior first baseman Megan Russell went 3-3.
Despite multiple lead changes, Trinity hung on to win the second game 7-5.
“What was most impressive is that all 12 players were utilized in the wins this past weekend,” said junior third baseman and catcher Becca Rush in an email. “Everyone on our team had very timely hitting and great defense and that is what allowed us to win the second game on Friday.”
First year catcher Caitlynn Dykes recorded two home runs, going 3-4 with five RBI and three runs scored, earning her SCAC Player of the Week.
On the mound, Mercado allowed five runs and four hits and struck out five batters.
On Saturday afternoon, Trinity swept their doubleheader against Austin College.
“My team showed up that day on Saturday,” Collins said. “That was the team I was used to seeing. It was encouraging to see them come out ready to play. We really pounded the ball, and we had solid defense all the way around.”
Trinity won the first game 14-1. Dykes went 3-4 with two runs and three RBI, while sophomore middle infielder Brooke Sanchez went 2-3 with two runs scored and senior outfielder Rachel Garrett recorded two hits and three runs.
Friday led on the mound, allowing only one run on four hits.
Trinity dominated in the second game as well, winning 12-0.
“We got good hits, we shot the gaps and just kept hitting the pitchers,” Kinlaw said. “There was nothing they could really do defensively.”
Mercado contributed on the mound for the Tigers, striking out three batters in a two-hit shutout.
Offensively, Mercado went 2-4 with a run and three RBI, recording her fourth homerun of the season. Garrett went 2-2 with two runs scored, and Kinlaw contributed with three hits and two runs scored.
Trinity plays this weekend in conference play against Hendrix College.
“We’re on a run-we’ve got some momentum with a lot of good games in,” said Kinlaw. “I feel like the first game against Austin College was a little bit of a backslide, but from now on we’re not going to let that happen again. I feel like we’re in a really good place in our season.”
