SMRYNA, Tenn. – The Trevecca Nazarene University softball team (4-2) opened the Music City Invitational by splitting games with Drury University and Gannon University at Cedar Stone Park on Friday.
The Trojans lost to Drury University (1-4), 1-0, to open play and then later defeated Gannon University (1-1), 9-2 to close out the afternoon.
GM 1: HOW IT HAPPENED
Drury 1, Trevecca 0
A pitcher's duel commenced in this matchup as a total of seven hits were collected between both sides. The Trojans managed just three hits and the Panthers scored the only run of the game in the fourth inning. Taylor Hartsell singled in pinch-running Lilly Hinson to give the Panthers the lead. Drury's bullpen combined for a four-inning hitless shutout to bring the Panthers first win of the season.
· Sensing took the loss (1-2) by tossing a complete game with 11 strikeouts allowing just one run sprinkled over four hits.
GM 2: HOW IT HAPPENED
Trevecca 9, Gannon 2
Trevecca saw the first four batters reach first safely but could not plate a run in the top of the first off two hits. With two outs in the bottom half of the inning, though, the Golden Knights
scored the first run of the game
off a double by Natalia Mallozzi. The Trojans tied the game in the second inning after a wild pitch allowed
Sarah Kinderdine to score. Kinderdine later homered to lead off the fourth inning to give the Trojans the lead. The homer was part of a four-run inning for Trevecca who plated runs off RBI singles from
Anna Bennett and
Addy Grace Summers. Summers also scored on a fielder's choice to give the Trojans a 5-1 lead. The Trojans brought in one more run in the fifth as pitch runner
Sarah Nicholson touched home off another Summers RBI single. After the Golden Knights added more one run in the bottom of the fifth, with two outs in the sixth, Nicholson connected for an RBI double to left field to give Trevecca a 7-2 lead. Trevecca scored two more runs in the top of the seventh to secure the 9-2 win.
CIRCLE AND BOX NOTES
· Addy Grace Summers went 4-4 with two RBIs, two stolen bases and a walk.
· Alex Behnke (1-0) allowed just two runs over 4.2 innings with a walk and a strikeout.
MUSIC CITY INVITATIONAL NOTES
This is the fifth season the Trojans have hosted the Music City Invitational and the third consecutive year the tournament has been played at Cedar Stone Park in Smyrna. Including today's results, Trevecca is 12-4 all-time in MCI games and has now played 11 different opponents over the years.
For a full preview of this weekend's games, click here.
NEXT ON THE SOFTBALL SLATE
The Trojans play the University of Purdue Northwest at 2:00 p.m. and Ferris State University at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.
On Monday, February 19, the Trojans play Quincy University, but that game is on the Trevecca campus, finishing out the Music City Invitational. The game with Quincy is the first official home game and the last home game until the Trojans host Lake Erie College on March 22.
