HARTFORD, Conn. – The Bantams claimed a pair over the visiting Hamilton College Continentals Saturday afternoon, opening their New England Small College Athletic Conference play 2-0.
Trinity Softball now owns a 7-4 record, 2-0 in the conference, while the Continentals fall to 5-8, 0-2 in the NESCAC.
Game 1: Trinity 3, Hamilton 0
The game was frozen at 0-0 through the first four innings of play. The bottom half of the fifth is where the Bantams began to soar. Singles from Isabella Calagna and Emily Goddard set up runners on first and second with two outs. Senior captain Makenna True took a whack at the first pitch, sending the ball deep down the right field line, scoring Lizzie Nelson (pinch runner for Calagna) and moving Goddard to third.
With a 1-0 lead and two outs, Heather Roth played a ball down the right field line that was bobbled by the Continentals' third baseman, allowing Roth to reach on the error and score Goddard for a 2-0 lead.
The Bantams stayed alive in the inning, pushing across their third and final run with another double down the right field line from Ashleigh Lent, sending True across the plate for a 3-0 advantage.
Senior captain Kaysen Shikar closed the game for the Bantams, allowing one hit in the sixth and finishing with a clean 1-2-3 seventh to secure the 3-0 win. Shikar tossed a complete game, striking out five batters, walking four, and allowing four hits.
Inside the Numbers
Runs: Trinity 3 | Hamilton 0
Hits: Trinity 9 | Hamilton 4
Stolen Bases: Trinity 2 | Hamilton 1
Errors: Trinity 0 | Hamilton 1
Pitching
W – Kaysen Shikar (Trinity), 3–3
L – Lydia Farace (Hamilton), 2–3
Game 2: Trinity 4, Hamilton 3
The Continentals and Bantams traded runs in the first inning. A single through the left side scored two runs for the Continentals in the opening frame. The Bantams responded in the bottom half, as a groundout to first allowed movement on the base paths, scoring Abby Alper from third to make it 2-1 Hamilton.
A fielder's choice allowed the Continentals to add their third run in the third inning. Bantam Mikayla O'Brien looked to turn two but was unable to get the throw to first in time.
A big third inning saw the Bantams tie the game at 3-3. A single through the left side by Ruffer scored Alper to make it 3-2. Goddard followed with a triple to the warning track in right-center field, bringing Ruffer home for the tie.
The clutch hit came from O'Brien in the sixth inning. With two outs and Ashleigh Lent on third, the Bantams senior made contact on the second pitch, sending a ball dribbling down the first base line. The play pulled the Hamilton first baseman off the bag and forced a late cover from second, allowing O'Brien to reach safely and score the go-ahead run.
Erin Connor claimed the win, stranding two runners on base in the seventh. Connor struck out two batters, walked four, and allowed six hits in the victory.
Inside the Numbers
Runs: Trinity 4 | Hamilton 3
Hits: Trinity 7 | Hamilton 6
Stolen Bases: Trinity 1 | Hamilton 1
Errors: Trinity 0 | Hamilton 1
Pitching
W – Erin Connor (Trinity), 3-0
L – Sabrina Edwards-Smith (Hamilton), 2-4
TRINITY ATHLETICS
