Box Score HENDERSON, Tenn. -
Lauren Baker picked up her 24th consecutive victory and
Kari Mason drove in a pair of runs as the 5th-ranked Trevecca Trojans (45-3) advanced to the championship game of the 2011 TranSouth Softball Championships with a 4-1 win over #RV Union (40-14) Friday morning at Morgan Stadium at Associates Field on the campus of Freed-Hardeman University.
Things didn't start well for Trevecca, as the Bulldogs scored a run in the top of the first inning, and still had the bases loaded with nobody out. But Baker retired the side without allowing any further damage, and Union never seriously threatened again.
The Trojans had plenty of early opportunities thanks to three Bulldog errors in the first two innings. After failing to score in the first inning, Trevecca took the lead with two runs in the second.
Breanna Zeis reached on an error, but was forced out on a fielder's choice by
Haylee Rogers, who stole second and advanced to third when
Heather Shuler reached on Union's second error of the inning.
Monica West walked to load the bases, and one out later,
Kelsey Lantrip and
Kari Mason stroked back-to-back singles to score Rogers and Shuler and push the Trojans ahead for good.
Trevecca added a couple of insurance runs in the fifth inning to put the game away.
Kelsey Lantrip led off the inning with a triple and scored on a single by Mason. After Mason stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball, Baker hit a sacrifice fly to drive her in with the game's final run.
Baker (24-0) was outstanding in the circle to remain undefeated on the season. After working out of trouble in the first, she allowed just three hits over the next five innings. Baker pitched six innings, allowing one run on five hits, with eight strikeouts and just one walk.
Riley Mashburn pitched a scoreless seventh inning to record her first save of the season. Brooke Thomas (22-7) suffered the loss for the Bulldogs.
Lantrip and Mason provided a spark at the top of the Trojan lineup, combining to go 4-6 with three RBI, two runs, and a stolen base.
The Trojans are now just one win from their second consecutive TranSouth tournament championship. Their next opponent will be determined based on the results of the next two games of the tournament. Martin Methodist and Cumberland play an elimination game first, with the winner playing Union this afternoon at 1 p.m. The winner of that game will be Trevecca's opponent in the 4 p.m. championship game.
