Trinity University Softball jumps back into conference play against the University of St. Thomas this weekend.
 
The Tigers (15-7) enjoyed a spring break full of softball. They started it off with a three-game sweep over Schreiner and would then go 4-2 against their next three opponents. The Tigers showed dominance both in the box and in the circle. As a team, Trinity has now upped their team batting average to .301 and their OBP to .401. For the pitching staff, the Tigers now sport a 3.78 ERA with two pitchers below a 3.00 ERA. Freshman Samantha Tagawa (Agoura Hills, California / Agoura) is now third nationally in walks per game (1.26) and the Tigers are ranked nationally in stolen bases per game (2.61).
 
Preview - Back To The SCAC
 
The Tigers will take on the Celts beginning on Friday, March 22nd at 6:00 PM. Then, on Saturday, Trinity will play a doubleheader at noon and 2:00 PM. 
 
On the St. Thomas Celts: The 2023 SCAC Champions are 10-6 (3-0 SCAC) so far in 2024. The Celts swept Austin College in the first SCAC series. UST outscored AC 28-5 and run-ruled them in two of three games. St. Thomas will rely on their big bats to carry them as they are batting .353 as a team and have accumulated 29 doubles as well as seven home runs. The Tiger staff will have to watch out for sophomore catcher Chloe Bennett. Bennett is batting .442 this season with four homers and 24 RBIs. The Celts, however, have a thin staff of just three pitchers. They will ride the arm of freshman Victoria Sossaman who has a 4.47 ERA with 51.2 innings this season. 
 
Key to the Game
 
Weak Contact: With the hard-hitting bats of UST, the Trinity pitching staff will have to be smart about pitch placement. Tiger pitching will need to get pitches to be in on the hands or off the plate to force weak contact and let the TU defenders make plays. Look for Peyton Bowser (Arvada, Colorado / West), Angela Baltzell (Antioch, California / Freedom), and Tagawa to get a healthy dose of putouts this weekend. 
 
Looking Ahead
 
The Tigers will travel to Irving to play against the University of Dallas on March 29th and 30th.