SOFTBALL: Trinity crushes FPCA to get back in win column after tough losses at RTCA, CCA

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SLAP SHOT: Brinley Vinson fires one into left field for an RBI single to begin Trinity’s second trip through the batting order in the first inning of Thursday’s rout of FPCA/CLAY REYNOLDS

The Trinity Lady Crusaders went 1-2 over their most recent week on the diamond. They suffered a pair of tough losses on the road, falling 5-4 at Robert Toombs late last week and 11-3 at Citizens Christian Tuesday, but were able to rebound with a huge 15-0 win over First Preparatory Christian Thursday at home.

The Robert Toombs game was back and forth throughout, but the home Crusaders were able to win on a walk-off base on balls.

RTCA got a two-out single in the first to take an early lead.

Trinity was able to tie it in the third as Abby Gillis singled, stole second and scored on a double by M.G. Alligood, then took the lead in the fourth.

Reece Cobb laid down a bunt to lead off the inning. The throw got away from the first baseman, allowing her to advance all the way to third. Eden Rowe would drive her home with a groundout to make it 2-1.

The lead was short-lived, as RTCA scored a pair in the bottom of the inning with two outs. A hit, a costly error, and three walks made the score 3-2.

Gillis would double in the fifth, and Alligood would drive her home again with a hit to make it 3-3 again in the top of the fifth. Another two-out hit by RTCA gave the lead back in the bottom of the inning at 4-3.

A Rowe single and a pair of walks would load the bases for Trinity in the sixth. Brinley Vinson would drive in a run on a fielder’s choice to knot the score again at 4-4.

That would remain until the bottom of the seventh, when two singles and two walks brought home the winning run as Trinity fell 5-4.

Alligood led the offense with two hits. Gillis, Cobb, Rowe and Abby Kilpatrick also had hits.

KEEPING THE LINE MOVING: Eden Rowe smashes one up the middle for an RBI on one of Trinity’s four base hits in the bottom of the first inning vs. FPCA. It was her second in three games/CLAY REYNOLDS

The CCA game didn’t start well as the Lady Patriots scored four times in the bottom of the first on three hits and pair for Crusader errors.

The score was 5-0 when Trinity finally got on the board in the fourth. Alligood doubled to lead off the frame and Liza Gay came up next with a single. A squeeze bunt would score Alligood to make it 5-1.

The Patriots scored three times in the bottom of the inning on a fielder’s choice and back-to-back homers to make it 8-1.

Gillis would single to lead off the sixth and score on a Gay double to make it 8-2. Trinity got another run on an error to make it 8-3; however the Lady Crusaders would get no closer as CCA scored three times in the bottom of the frame to win via run rule, 11-3.

Vinson and Gay had two hits each, while Alligood and Gillis also hit safely.

THREE IS THE MAGIC NUMBER: Maddie-Grace Alligood held FPCA to just three hits in her three innings of shutout work Thursday, and set batters down on a third strike four times/CLAY REYNOLDS

The return home to play FPCA was just what Trinity needed to jump start the offense as it exploded for 12 runs in the bottom of the first to put the game away from the outset.

Four hits, four walks, five hit batters and an error led to the onslaught. Trinity sent 13 hitters to the plate before the Highlanders finally recorded an out.

The big blow of the contest came in the second inning. With two on and two away, Chloe Rozier ripped a ball over the center fielder and was able to circle the bases for an inside-the-park home run.

Vinson, Alligood, Gay, Rozier, Rowe and Bethany Sumner all had hits.

Trinity (4-9, 3-4 district) will play just one next week at home against David Emanuel on Tuesday.