SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Trinity Softball sweeps St. Olaf to open weekend homestand.
Game One - Trinity 8, St. Olaf 5
St. Olaf pushed across the game's first run in the top of the first, but Trinity broke through in the bottom of the third to take control. Angela Baltzell (Antioch, California / Freedom) got things started with a leadoff hit, and Hannah Boudreaux (Pearland, Texas / Shadow Creek) later hit a single to move Baltzell to third. Carsyn Lee (Flower Mound, Texas / Flower Mound) then lined an RBI single to bring home the tying run, and Hannah Flores (San Antonio, Texas / Taft) followed with the biggest swing of the frame, ripping a two-run triple to left center that scored both Boudreaux and Lee for a 3-1 Trinity lead.
The visitors answered with two runs in the top of the fourth to even the score, but Trinity immediately responded in the bottom half. Jordan Arce (Thousand Oaks, California / Thousand Oaks) reached to open the inning and eventually moved all the way to third, then came home on a groundout by Baltzell to put the Tigers back in front. Later in the inning, Ella Whitacre (Roanoke, Texas / Byron Nelson) and Boudreaux reached to put more pressure on the Ole pitcher, setting up Lee for another clutch moment. Lee delivered a two-run single to shallow center, bringing in Whitacre and Boudreaux as Trinity stretched the lead to 6-3.
St. Olaf added two more runs in the fifth to pull within one, but Trinity had one more answer. Samantha Tagawa (Agoura Hills, California / Agoura) singles to begin the bottom of the inning, and Arce later singles to put two runners on with two outs. Baltzell then came through with a two-run single to short, scoring Tagawa and Arce to give the Tigers breathing room at 8-5.
Trinity closed out the final two innings without allowing another run to seal the win.
Game Two - Trinity 4, St. Olaf 3
After three scoreless innings, Trinity broke through in the bottom of the fourth with two outs. Arce worked a walk to keep the inning alive, then swiped second to move into scoring position. Hayden Del Toro (Cypress, Texas / Cy Woods) followed with a double to left center that brought Arce home for the game's first run, and Kristy Mendoza (Phoenix, Arizona / Desert Vista) kept the rally going with an RBI single to left that scored Del Toro and made it 2-0.
The Tigers added another run in the fifth. Baltzell drew a leadoff walk and quickly put pressure on the defense by stealing second and moving to third on a wild pitch. A sacrifice fly from Quincy Basarowich (Calgary, Alberta / Memorial) then brought Baltzell home to extend the lead to 3-0.
Trinity tacked on what proved to be an important insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, Del Toro reached on a walk and then aggressively broke for second. The throw sailed away, allowing Del Toro to score, and push the Tigers in front 4-0.
St. Olaf threatened throughout the day and finally broke through in the top of the seventh with a two-run double and an RBI single to make things tight, but Trinity was able to close out the win and secure the sweep.
Up Next
The Tigers will be back at home tomorrow for their final non-conference games in a doubleheader against Bethel at Noon and 2:00 PM.
