ASHLAND, Ohio – The Trevecca Nazarene University softball team (18-8, 2-0 Great Midwest) opened up Great Midwest Athletic Conference play with a sweep of Ashland University (6-13, 0-2 Great Midwest) at the Deb Miller Field on Friday.
The Trojans have never lost to Ashland (6-11) having beaten the Eagles in all nine meetings.
HOW IT HAPPENED
GM 1: TNU 5, AU 0
Playing in just their second true road series of the season, the Trojans wasted little time taking the advantage.
Anna Bennett led off the game with a solo home run to right field and Trevecca plated one run each in the second and third innings off RBI singles to take a 3-0 lead through three innings.
Despite a double in the fourth, the Trojans bats went quietly for the first time on the afternoon. In the fifth,
Kendall Andrews connected for an RBI double to left field and a sacrifice fly to center field saw the Trojans stretch the lead to 5-0 in the sixth inning.
CIRCLE AND BOX NOTES
* Five different Trojans collected at least one hit.
* Anna Bennett went 4-4 with a solo home run, three runs scored, an RBI and two stolen bases.
* Ashlan Sensing (9-4) started and tossed a complete game shutout. Sensing collected 11 strikeouts allowing only five hits in the win.
* Sensing leads the Great Midwest in strikeouts, wins and innings pitched.
* Today's game was the seventh shutout of the season and the first no-hitter game as well.
GM 2: TNU 7, AU 3
Looking to remain undefeated on the day, the Trojans' bats used two big innings to claim their second victory. The first coming in the second frame when three runs were plated off an RBI single from
Maddie Poschke and a two-run single off the bat of
Anna Bennett. Trevecca took a 4-0 lead in the third inning after
Sydney McCormick connected for an RBI double to right center field. The Eagles got a run back in the home half of the third off a single before making it a 4-3 game in the fourth after a two-run home run to left.
The Trojans next big inning came in the fifth when they got three more runs past home. Kendall Andrews doubled to lead off the inning and
Kyleigh Burgett tripled her home before she later scored when
Sydney McCormick brought her in on a sacrifice play. Another sacrifice, this time a fly out to center field scored the Trojans seventh run.
CIRCLE AND BOX NOTES
* Seven different Trojans collected at least one hit.
* Sydney McCormick was 2-3 with two doubles, two RBIs and a run scored.
* Alex Behnke (5-2) started and went four innings, allowing just three hits while striking out three in the win.
NEXT ON THE DIAMOND
The Trojans complete the weekend Saturday by traveling to Columbus, Ohio to take on Ohio Dominican University (11-3, 0-0 Great Midwest) for a doubleheader at 12:00 p.m.
Since 2006, the Trojans and Panthers have split all 22 games played.
