SOFTBALL: Trinity eliminated from GIAA tournament by Brentwood, Briarwood
The Crusaders fell in a blowout, and a heartbreaker, as their run at the state tournament was cut short by opening losses.
The Trinity Lady Crusaders saw their softball season come to an end on Thursday with a pair of losses in Columbus at the GIAA state tournament.
No. 8 seed Trinity made a strong late-season push to reach the postseason, but was defeated by top-ranked Brentwood 14-1 and fell just short to Briarwood 7-5 in Thursday’s games to open the double-elimination bracket.
The Brentwood game was a microcosm of the Lady Crusaders’ season as the Lady Eagles had two outs and just one run on the board before a costly error extended a key inning.
From there Brentwood would score nine more times to lead 10-0 and essentially put the game away.
Trinity’s lone run came on a fielder’s choice in the third to make it 10-1, but Brentwood would respond with four more in the home half to win 14-1 in four innings.
M.G. Alligood led the offense with two hits, while Abby Gillis and Reese Cobb also hit safely.
Brentwood pounded out 11 hits and took advantage of four errors. Just five of the 14 runs were earned.
The second game was a pitcher’s duel early on. Briarwood got a run in the second, but that was the only run until the top of the fifth.
Trinity took a lead on a two run double by Alligood to make the score 2-1.
The lead was short-lived as the Lady Bucs regained the lead in the home half of the frame. They used a single, an error, and a two run double to go up 3-2, and would score four more times in the sixth on just two hits and four more Crusader errors to take a commanding 7-2 lead.
Trinity was down, but not out, as it reached on three straight two-out errors in the seventh to make it 7-3. Cobb then delivered a two-run single to make it 7-5 and bring the tying run to the plate. Unfortunately the Lady Crusaders would get no closer and their season came to a close.
Alligood, Cobb and Liza Gay had two hits each in the game. Brinley Vinson also had a hit.
Briarwood had seven hits also but took advantage of seven Trinity errors.
Alligood allowed just two earned in the complete-game loss. She walked three and struck out three.
Trinity’s season ends with a 9-14 record.
Author
Related Articles
SOCCER: West Laurens boys pick off Peach County, girls edged by Heritage in second round
The Raider boys kept things high and tight in another shutout Wednesday, after Heritage hit two top-corner targets to take out their girls in a second-straight upset Tuesday night.
BASEBALL: West Laurens dumps hitting slump, thumps Gilmer to advance in state playoffs
The Raiders’ recent struggles coming up with big hits with runners in scoring position finally ran their course in multiple big innings of Friday’s confident wins.
BASEBALL: Trinity bats stay busy in high-scoring tangle with Tallulah Falls
The Crusaders continued their hot offensive streak as they built a pair of solid leads, but ultimately had to hold on to win their final home game 12-10 on Saturday.