Trinity softball went 3-1 across two series at home on Feb. 27 and March 1. They started the weekend with a sweep of Hanover College in two games with scores of 10-2 and 7-2. They finished the weekend by splitting with Willamette University. Trinity won the first game 5-3, but lost later that day 3-2.

Game 1 vs Hanover

Trinity started their doubleheader against Hanover with a big first inning. The scoring began on the first pitch the Panthers threw, as junior outfielder Ella Whitacre scored the game’s first run. Whitacre dropped down a bunt in the infield. It seemed harmless until the throw to first ended up in right field, and Whitacre ran all the way around the bases to score. The inning would not get better for Hanover, as junior catcher Hannah Boudreaux homered to deep left field to extend the lead to 3-0.

The Tigers would proceed to load the bases with three consecutive walks to put senior shortstop Angela Baltzell in a position to put the game out of reach.

Baltzell delivered a double in the left-center field gap. All three runners scored to balloon the lead to 6-0. Baltzell was eventually brought in to score the seventh run of the inning, which wound up being more than enough run support.

As the game progressed, the story flipped to the circle where junior pitcher Josephine Koelewyn was throwing a gem. Koelewyn finished four innings and did not give up a single baserunner. She was relieved by junior pitcher Cameron Bishop who, while she gave up two runs, did not surrender a hit. Trinity scored the clinching run in the bottom of the frame to secure the 10-2 run-rule victory and the combined no-hitter.

“It’s a big deal for Josie,” head coach Bailey Wittenauer said. “Usually she had that one hit game or two hit game and didn’t get the no-hitter, so that was good to see.”

Game 2 vs Hanover

The second game of the doubleheader started in a similar way to the first. The Tigers put up a four-spot in the first inning. This time, it was first-year outfielder Hannah Flores who delivered the big hit with the bases loaded. Flores tripled to right-center field to score all three runners on base. Flores also came around to score on a throwing error on the play, as fielding errors continued to harm Hanover.

The four runs Trinity scored in the inning were enough to win the game. Junior Megan Kriechbaum pitched four scoreless innings and struck out six batters, as Trinity won the game 7-2 to sweep the doubleheader.

“I was happy with the way that our bats came out,” Wittenauer said. “Anytime you can get that big lead, it can provide stability for your defense and pitching staff.”

Game 1 vs Willamette

Trinity started the series against Willamette down a run in the first inning. It was the first time they trailed all weekend, but it didn’t last long. The Tigers tied the game at one with an RBI groundout from Boudreaux. Trinity then took a 5-1 lead with two runs in the second and fourth innings. Half of those runs came in on Willamette errors.

The Bearcats scored the final two runs of the game, but it wasn’t enough to make the comeback as they lost 5-3. Koelewyn threw a complete game and gave up six hits, three runs and collected six strikeouts. She now has a 6-0 record through just ten games.

Game 2 vs Willamette

The second game in the doubleheader versus Willamette was a pitcher’s duel. Bearcats’ starter Mckenzee Peterson and Kriechbaum combined for ten strikeouts and traded scoreless innings until the fifth. Willamette scored the game’s first run in the inning, and scored two more times in the sixth inning to take a 3-0 lead.

Trinity had only one baserunner through the first four innings and left the bases loaded in the fifth. They scored their first run of the day on a Bearcat error in the sixth, but were in a position to strike at the end. The fourth Willamette error of the day brought in Baltzell to score and left Boudreaux on second base as the tying run. However, the Bearcats hung on to win 3-2.

“The end goal is to win an SAA Championship,” Wittenauer said. “So, we’re not trying to get too overwhelmed with missed opportunities like that, but instead asking ‘What can we learn from it?’”

By going 3-1, Trinity improved their record to 8-2. A doubleheader against Howard Payne University is next on the schedule on March 7.