IRVING, Texas - The Trinity Softball squad became the first team to win two games on the opening day of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference since 2018. The Tigers beat Centenary College 7-0 in the second game of the tournament. TU then turned around and ended the night with a big 4-3 victory over the University of St. Thomas.

Before today, Trinity was 1-3 against Centenary in the conference tournament. The Ladies also knocked Trinity out of the tournament last season. The win over UST was even bigger because Trinity lost the regular season series, which solidified St. Thomas as the No. 2 seed in the conference. TU improves to (20-22, 13-8 SCAC) after today's big-time wins. 

Senior Cat Patterson (West Columbia, Texas / Brazosport Christian) had a huge day in the circle for the Tigers. Patterson tossed two complete games today. The All-SCAC second Teamer also picked up her fifth complete-game shutout in game one and improves to 16-10 on the year. 

Senior Sammie Whitman (Austin, Texas / Lake Travis) was perfect 3-for-3 in game one with one run scored and one run batted in. First-year Abigail Miller (Winnetka, Calif. / El Camino Real) was 3-for-4 at the dish in game one as well. Senior Jenna Kash (Flower Mound, Texas / Flower Mound) drew a walk and went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two runs batted in in the win over Centenary. Senior Brianna Pena (La Porte, Texas / La Porte) collected two hits in three at-bats of game one with one run scored. First-year Sydney Watson (San Antonio, Texas / San Antonio Christian) went 2-for-2 at the plate with one RBI and one run scored. 

Game One Rundown (Trinity 7, Centenary 0)

Centenary threatened in the top of the first but Patterson managed to escape the bases-loaded jam unscathed and keep the Ladies off the board. The first three batters reached base safely, but Patterson settled in and let the defense go to work. After forcing a pop-up the Tigers' defense turned a double-play to end the inning. 

Whitman led off the home half with a single but was left stranded after the next three hitters were retired. In the bottom of the second, Pena singled up the middle and advanced on a bunt single from first-year Alexa Saucedo (Harlingen, Texas / Harlingen). Pena and Saucedo then moved over on the double steal. Kash later singled to plate both runners and take an early 2-0 lead. 

Whitman led off the third with a single down the left field line and later scored thanks to a ground out to the shortstop from first-year Jessica Lloyd (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. / Trabuco Hills) to extend their lead to 3-0. The Ladies of Centenary sprinkled in a few hits over the next few innings but never capitalized on them. 

Kash quickly singled to lead off the fifth and later scored on a double from sophomore Marina Delaluna (Concord, Calif. / Concord). Miller followed the double up with a single to put runners on first and third with one out. Lloyd then brought in a run with a single of her own to put Trinity up 5-0. 

The Tigers added two more runs in the top of the sixth to make the score 7-0, which would ultimately be the final score. Watson singled and stole second. Kash drew a walk and Whitman followed that up with an RBI single. Lloyd eventually brought in Kash on a sacrifice fly to right field. 

Junior Emery Boettcher (Fredericksburg, Texas / Fredericksburg) came in in relief and pitched the final frame of the game. Boettcher shut the door and retired all three batters she faced. 

Game Two Rundown (Trinity 4, St. Thomas 3)

Both teams went down quietly in the first, but Trinity jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Pena walked, stole second, then scored on a single up the middle by Watson. Trinity expanded its lead to 2-0 in the third after Kash walked and later scored on a single by Miller. 

Patterson was electric in the circle. She was able to hold the Celts to zero runs for four innings until she gave up a two-run double in the bottom of the fifth. With the score tied 0-0, the Tigers responded with two runs of their own to jump out to a 4-2 lead in the top of the sixth. Kash walked and later scored one of the runs on a past ball. First-year Maliena Carelli (Kirkland, Wash. / Lake Washington) then came in the game to pinch-hit and reached first on a fielder's choice. Junior Madison Horn (Schertz, Texas / Clemens) shortly re-entered to pinch-run and later scored the other run of the inning on an RBI single from Whitman. 

Patterson settled in with a two-run lead and pitched a scoreless frame in the bottom of the sixth inning. UST did add an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh but the senior pitcher stranded a baserunner on first to end the ball game. 

On Deck

The Tigers will face TLU in the Winners Bracket Semifinal tomorrow afternoon. First-pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m. 

Notable Numbers

The Tigers stole six bases on the day, Watson swiped three of those bags. 

Lloyd and Kash both picked up two RBI in game one. 

Williams, Delaluna, and Miller all doubled today. 

Trinity improves to 47-30 all-time in the SCAC Tournament. 

Coach Speak

"Great day to be a Tiger," exclaimed Head Coach Abby Martin. "This team is playing well at the right time. Anything can happen in this tournament. We just need to continue putting together good at-bats, and playing solid defense behind our Ace, Cat Pat. If we can do those things, we have a legitimate chance to win this thing. We had a bunch of players step up today. Miller, Peña, Whitman, and Williams are all stepping up in big ways. Excited to take on the best in the conference in TLU, they play hard and put the pressure on you defensively. I have to say, we are ready for the challenge!"