The Trinity softball team had two losses when they faced Mary-Hardin Baylor in a doubleheader on Wednesday. The first game resulted in a 2-0 loss, as they were only able to come up with three hits in the game. In the second game, they managed to overcome a 2-0 deficit and tie the game only to lose on a walk off two run home run in the bottom of the seventh.

“We just had trouble hitting the ball. We normally can hit well, but for whatever reason we weren’t making contact the way we can,” said first year first baseman Siera Spurlock, who went 2-3 and scored a run in the second game.

Senior Kaci Wellik pitched the whole first game, giving up two runs, seven hits, one walk and struck out seven while being assigned her fifth loss on the season. Katie Castillion started and pitched four innings in game two and gave up two runs, five hits, one walk and struck out two before making way for Katie Glomb. Glomb pitched 2.1 innings giving up two runs, three hits and striking out two while being assigned her second loss on the season.

“Almost half of the team are first years and over half are underclassmen, so I think we are having a decent season considering that. Sometimes young teams are inconsistent, and I think you see that with us, but we have a talented group of girls on this team,” said first-year Catcher Stephanie Crumrine, who went 1-2 and scored a run in the second game against Mary-Hardin Baylor.

Ten of the 21 players on the roster are first years and three more are sophomores.

After the midweek games, the Tigers were back in action once again and played Austin College in conference play. They won all four games over the weekend, improving their record to 24-10 over and 17-3 in conference play. In the first game of the weekend, Wellik pitched all seven innings, striking out nine hitters on her way to a no-hitter and her eleventh win of the season. As Trinity won 2-0 and went on to dominate the next three games, winning by a mercy rule in all three.

“Once we got one inning of solid hitting we really found a rhythm at the plate and carried it throughout the rest of the weekend. It was a good feeling for the team to be in a groove like that,” Crumrine said.

Crumrine went 2-4 and scored two runs over the course of the weekend. Trinity won 8-1, 9-1 and 12-1 in the three games after Wellik’s no-hitter. Castillion collected her sixth and seventh wins of the season while Wellik picked up her twelfth win in a game after her no-hitter.

According to the team, there is an air of optimism around the team about the future with such a young team this season. Coaches and players alike say that the transition from high school to college softball is a difficult one and that it takes time to adjust.

“We’re really proud of how our young girls have handled the situation this season. When you have young players, there is a learning curve, but they have taken that curve very well and very quickly. I think we are set up well for next season,” said Kara Reeves assistant softball coach.

The young players have noticed a difference in the level of play in college as they have made their transition as well. Many of them look to the upperclassmen for advice as they navigate the season.

“The older players on the team have been a huge help. They’re always willing to help with whatever we need and have seen a lot in the game that we haven’t. They’ve been great really,” Spurlock said.

The Trinity Tigers are back on the road to play first in conference Texas Lutheran on Friday at 5 p.m. They will play a doubleheader Friday and Saturday, where they hope to gain ground on Texas Lutheran in the conference standings and to gain momentum going into the conference tournament.