NASHVILLE, Tenn. - After a week of softball over spring break, the Trevecca softball team (12-12) returned home to host Lee University (12-17) and split the doubleheader with a loss in game one, 5-6, and a seventh inning win, 10-9. 

The Trojans open up conference play hosting Salem International University (9-5) in a weekend series of four games, the first double header on Friday, March 18 starting at 1 PM and then Saturday, March 19 starting at 11 AM. TNU is 7-0 in the all-time series verses Salem Int'l with the most recent win, 9-1, in the post season tournament last year on April 30, 2015. 

GAME ONE

Trevecca brought their first batter all the way around to put the first run on the board and take an early lead, 1-0, in the bottom of the first. Following a scoreless second for both teams, Lee put up three runs over the third and fourth to take the lead, 3-1. TNU plated three in the fourth to regain the lead, 4-3, and extended it with one more in the fifth, 5-3. Lee brought in the final three in the sixth inning to come back and take the lead, 6-5 and hold the Trojans.

It all started with lead off Ansley Brantley (SR/Kite, Ga.) getting clobbered by a pitch. Two outs later, Shelby Andrews (SR/Dyersburg, Tenn.) hit a single to drive Brantley in for the first run. 

After Lee took the lead with three runs over the third and fourth innings, Andrews started the action in the bottom of the fourth by drawing the walk. Caitlyn Hudgins hit a single. Mary Collins (FR/Collierville, TN) reached on a fielder's choice, Andrews out on the play, before a Jordan Griner (SR/Mulberry, Tenn.) single drove in Hudgins and advanced Collins to third. Collins came home on a Kaitlin Crumpler double for the Trojans to regain the lead, 4-3, after four complete. 

They plated one more in the fifth, 5-3, when Tana Whited (FR/Lebanon, TN) came home off another Andrews single, she doubled prior and advanced on an Alex Richardson sacrifice bunt. 

It was trouble in the top of the sixth inning when back-to-back doubles from the Flames drove in three more runs for them to take the lead, 6-3, and hold the Trojans through the rest of the game. 

Shelby Andrews was 2-for-2 with two RBI and a walk. Caitlyn Hudgins was 1-for-2. Tana Whited and Kat Burbrink (SO/Hamilton, Ohio) both swung doubles and Ansley Brantley tallied her 16th stolen base of the season.

Haley Fagan (SR/Cornersville, Tenn.) (8-8) pitched all seven innings and had five strikeouts. She walked five and let six runs on eleven hits. 

GAME TWO

Trevecca gained the lead early again with a run in the first. Lee combined for five in the second and third while TNU ripped it open in the bottom of the fourth with six runs to take the lead, 7-5. Lee edged back with two in the top of the fifth to tie it, 7-7, and TNU took the lead back, 8-7, with one in the bottom of the fifth. Lee tied it once more in the sixth with two runs, 9-9, before TNU finished it up with two in the seventh, 10-9.

Brantley lead off with a walk to start the game and then stole second to make it count. She made her way to third on a wild pitch and came home on the Alex Richardson (JR/Ten Mile, Tenn.) SAC bunt, for the first run of the game, 1-0. 

Lee put up one in the second and four in the third, 5-1, before Hughes helped TNU bring in six more in the fourth, 7-5. Andrews revved up the offense with a lead off double. Huggins walked and Collins was hit by a pitch to load the bases for TNU. Hughes walked Ivy to bring in the first run of the inning for the Trojans, 2-5. Maddux Reid (FR/Bourbonnais, IL), who went in to pinch run for Hudgins, slid home on a wild pitch, 3-5, while Ivy and Collins both advanced. Hughes walked Crumpler to load the bases for TNU again before Coach Russell pulled her out. 

Kat Burbrink switched places with Danielle Tyson to hit and swung a two RBI double to bring in Collins and Ivy to tie it, 5-5. Another wild pitch brought Crumpler home and take the lead, 6-5. A perfectly executed bunt single from Brantley was enough to bring Burbrink home, 7-5, before the Flames defense put a stop to the Trojans.

Lee plated two runs to tie it yet again, 7-7, on one hit and one error before TNU put a stop to it and left three stranded. 

The Trojans worked for the tying run in the fifth. First, a single from Hudgins. Then, a double from Collins. One out later, Crumpler hit a deep left field sacrifice fly to give Hudgins the time to score and regain the lead, 8-7.

Lee brought home two more, 9-8, with four hits in the sixth to flip the lead once more and held Trevecca through the bottom of the sixth. 

In the bottom of the seventh, Hudgins walked. Kelsie Craighead (SO/Mt. Juliet, TN), who pinch ran for Hudgins, advanced to second on a passed ball and third on a wild pitch. Collins walked which drew another pitching change from the Flames. Another wild pitch was enough for Craighead to slide home and put the go ahead run, Collins, in scoring position. Savannah Carr (FR/Springfield, TN) came in to pinch run for Collins and Crumpler laid down the bunt single to bring Carr home. The Trojans took game two, 10-9.

Mary Collins was 2-for-2 with one run, a double and one walk. Kat Burbrink was 1-for-1 with one run and two RBI. Caitlyn Hudgins (FR/Springfield, TN) was 1-for-1 with one run and three walks. Ansley Brantley was 2-for-3 with one run, one RBI and one walk. Kaitlin Crumpler (JR/Smyrna, Tenn.) was 1-for-2 with two RBI, one run and one walk. Shelby Andrews was 2-for-4 with a double and one RBI.

Sammie Jo Ivy (SO/Enville, Tenn. ) pitched four innings with three strikeouts and three walks. She let six runs on five hits before Morgan Powell (FR/Mt. Juliet, TN) came in to finish the game and take the win (2-2). She pitched three strikeouts, walked two, and let three runs (two earned) on five hits in three innings of work.