INDIANAPOLIS – After a flurry of rain delays, the #21 Trevecca Nazarene University softball team (46-14) lost the school's first-ever NCAA Super Regional game by falling to #2 University of Indianapolis (57-4) 4- 0 at Greyhound Park on Wednesday afternoon.
SERIES HISTORY/NOTES
After claiming the first-ever meeting back in the 2014 season, the Trojans have only handed the Hounds one loss in 12 contests since. UIndy leads the all-time series 12-2 including a 5-0 win in the two sides only meeting this season.
At the Midwest Regional level, the Trojans are all too familiar with playing the Hounds and have a 1-2 record. The Trojans bowed out of their first-ever regional tournament with a 2-2 record with both losses coming at the hands of the Hounds. A season later, the 2016 Trevecca squad bested UIndy to open the regional tournament before falling to Grand Valley State University in two of three games.
This is the first-ever meeting between the two sides in an NCAA Super Regionals setting.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UINDY 4, TNU 0
After Anna Bennett grounded out on the game's first pitch, Kendall Andrews drew a walk for the Trojans first baserunner. Ashlan Sensing followed with a strikeout swinging before Annabelle Ellis drew a walk. Battling the rainy weather, Sydney McCormick then found her way to first on a walk to load the bases before the game was called due to rain with Gracie Kirby up to hit.
Over a day later, Kirby ended up grounding out to end the inning. After surrendering a lead-off single to the Hounds, Ashlan Sensing got out of the bottom half of the inning with a pair of strikeouts. Kyleigh Burgett drew a walk to lead off the second and reached second on a sacrifice bunt. After Addy Grace Summers grounded out saw Burgett reach third. When Anna Bennett was hit by the pitch runners stood at the corners before Andrews ended the frame with a strikeout. The Hounds threatened in the bottom of the second with a double and a single but an excellent throw from Kirby gunned down the lead runner and kept the game scoreless.
Ashlan Sensing led off the third with a single to right field but could not advance as the next three Trojans were retired. UIndy threatened once again in the bottom of the third with the first two batters reaching via singles. A sacrifice bunt and consecutive groundouts got Sensing and the Trojans out of the jam with some clutch pitching.
The top of the fourth saw the Trojans load the bases behind two walks and a fielder's choice, but with two outs Sensing grounded out to end the damage. UIndy broke through in the bottom half of the frame after the Ohio Dominican transfer Braxton Downs homered off a full count to give the Hounds a 1-0 lead. Just one out and five batters later the Hounds' lead grew to 4-0 after an RBI double and a two-run single before Sensing retired UIndy in order in the bottom half of the inning.
Strikeouts began and ended things for the Trojans in the sixth before the Hounds went quietly in the bottom half of the inning. The Trojans saw Anna Bennett lead the seventh off with a single before the next three batters were retired.
CIRCLE AND BOX NOTES
* Anna Bennett was 1-3 with a hit-by-pitch.
* Ashlan Sensing went 1-3.
* Sensing fell to 25-9 with another complete game performance. She struck out four while allowing 10 hits over six innings of work with four earned runs.
NEXT ON THE DIAMOND
The best-of-3 series continues with game two at 9:00 a.m. before a potential game three is set to begin around 30 minutes after game two.
MORE ABOUT THE TREVECCA TROJANS
Visit the Official Home of Trevecca Athletics at www.tnutrojans.com | www.trevecca.edu
Click for Live Video of home games.
Follow on Social Media - Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Free Newsletter
-- www.tnutrojans.com --
#PurpleReigns #DefendTheHill
