MEDFORD, Mass. – The fifth-seeded Trinity College Softball team posted a pair of victories over fourth-seeded Colby College, 10-1, and top-seeded Tufts University, 2-0, in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Softball Championship Tournament, hosted at Tufts University Saturday afternoon. Trinity earned their first berth in the Championship game since 2007.

With the wins, the Bantams improved to 24-14, setting a new program record for wins in a season, besting the 23-10 mark established by the 2006 team. Trinity will square off with two-seed Williams College in the Championship Game Sunday at 11:00 a.m.
 
Game 1: #5 Trinity 10, #4 Colby 1
The Bantams grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as junior Taylor Mikolajczak drew a leadoff walk, and then scored on a Mules fielding error. After two scoreless innings, Trinity added to their lead as senior Gianna Tito ripped an RBI single to right field, making it a 2-0 game.

The Bantams pulled away in the fifth inning, erupting for six runs on five hits. Sophomore Erin Steed knocked a leadoff single, followed by a pair of walks to load the bases, and then Steed scored on an RBI single from first-year Emily Goddard. First-year Isabella Calagna laced an RBI single through the right side of the infield and classmate Heather Roth scored on a fielding error to extend the Trinity lead to 5-0.

Sophomore Lizzie Nelson brought home Goddard on an RBI groundout, followed by an RBI single from Tito and an RBI double from senior  Kennedy Rogers to pull ahead 8-0. Rogers added a two-run single in the top of the sixth to close out the 10-1 victory.

Senior Tiffany Stowers (14-2) earned the win with a six-inning complete game effort, allowing one run on two hits with a strikeout.
 
Game #2: #5 Trinity 2, #1 Tufts 0
Following a scoreless first inning, the Bantams took control as sophomore Abigail Alper launched a solo home run over the left field fence, giving Trinity a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second.

Sophomore Kaysen Shikar held the Jumbos to just two hits from the pitching circle over the next four innings to maintain the one-run edge for the Bantams.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Bantams collected an insurance run as Mikolajczak knocked a leadoff single, and then came around to score on an RBI single from Kennedy to give Trinity the 2-0 lead after six innings. Shikar retired the side in the top of the seventh to clinch a berth in the NESCAC Championship Game.

Shikar logged a complete game shutout from the circle, allowing four hits with three strikeouts, to collect her seventh victory of the season.

TRINITY ATHLETICS