SAN ANTONIO- Trinity University softball clinched game three of the series against the University of the Ozarks (AR), winning 8-0.
 
The Rundown
 
The top of the lineup started strong in the 1st inning as the Trinity Tigers' leadoff hitter Samantha Tagawa (Agoura Hills, California / Agoura) drove a pitch to left field, adding another double under her belt. Ella Whitacre (Roanoke, Texas / Byron Nelson) stepped up to the plate next, reached 2nd on an error by the Eagle shortstop, pushing Tagawa to 3rd. With runners in scoring position, three-hole hitter Hannah Boudreaux (Pearland, Texas / Shadow Creek) sent a hard grounder to an already frazzled shortstop who got the out at 1st, while Tagawa sprinted home to score the first run of the ball game. The left side of the field on the Eagle defense couldn't seem to catch a break when Carsyn Lee (Flower Mound, Texas / Flower Mound) sent another smoker, this time to the 3rd baseman who bobbled the hard-hit ball. Lee successfully pushed Whitacre across the plate to secure the second run to end the first inning. 
 
No runs scored on either side in the 2nd inning, but the top half of the Trinity lineup came out strong in the bottom of the third when Sammi hit a whammy over the center fielder's head and reached third for her 1st triple of the season. Tagawa was able to score when a ball got by the third baseman and entered the Tiger dugout. The shortstop's hand was probably throbbing after Boudreaux hit another hard grounder her way. Boudreaux beat out the throw and was safe at first. Next, Lee's hot bat throttled a ball sky-high, scuffing up the left field wall for a double, scoring Boudreaux from 1st to push across the 4th run of the game for Trinity. 
 
The Eagles thought they could tame the Tigers in the 4th only to be sent packing by the end of the 5th inning. Back at the top of the Trinity line up, Tagawa walked, and Whitacre laid down a bunt on the 3rd base side and reached first with no problem. On Whitacre's bunt, Tagawa sprinted to 3rd and created a 1st and 3rd situation with Boudreaux up to bat. Boudreaux showed off her nonchalant golf skills at the plate for a cover swing to allow Whitacre to steal 2nd. 
 
Boudreaux hit a frozen rope to right field for a double, scoring Whitacre from 2nd, and earning her 2nd RBI of the game, 19th on the season. Jordan Arce (Thousand Oaks, Calif. / Thousand Oaks) was put in to pinch run for Boudreaux as Mariana Garcia (Goodyear, Ariz. / Canyon View) approached the batter's box. Garcia lined the ball to left field for a single, scoring Arce from 2nd. Sydney Watson (San Antonio, Texas / San Antonio Christian) came in to pinch run for Garcia and walked to 2nd when Peyton Bowser (Arvada, Colorado / West) was beaned in the elbow by the Eagle pitcher. In the next at bat, Hayden Del Toro  (Cypress, Texas/ Cy Woods) sent a hard ground ball to the Eagle short stop and was safe at first, juicing the bases for Angela Baltzell (Antioch, Calif. / Freedom). Baltzell then finished the game with a missile to center and scored Watson to run rule the Eagles and bring an early end to today's game, securing Trinity's sweep over Ozarks. 

Defensively, Josephine Koelewyn (Reno, Nev. / Academy of Arts Careers and Technology) remained in the circle for the Tigers throughout the entirety of today's matchup. Koelewyn pitched an excellent game and cooked on the mound only letting up 3 hits with no runs scored. 
 
Up Next: 
 
The Trinity Tigers Softball Team takes on Concordia University (TX) on March 21st at 6 PM.