AKRON, Ohio – The #22 Trevecca Nazarene University softball team (43-12, 23-3 Great Midwest) was tested for the first time at the Great Midwest Athletic Conference tournament dropping its first game to fourth-seeded Northwood University (33-18, 17-9 Great Midwest) before defeating third-seeded Ohio Dominican University (34-13, 19-7 Great Midwest) at Firestone Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
SERIES HISTORY/NOTES
New to the conference prior to this season, Northwood and Trevecca split a pair of games played in Midland, Michigan earlier this season.
It was the Timberwolves who, at the time halted the Trojans' eight game winning streak only for Trevecca to win the following 11 contests after the defeat to Northwood in game two.
It was the tenth between the two schools in softball with Trevecca holding the 6-4 all-time series advantage.
Ohio Dominican and Trevecca split the two regular season meetings in Columbus, Ohio, both one run games. Trevecca takes the all-time series lead 13-12 after 25 games with today's win. ODU and TNU have met six times in the postseason where the Panthers have the edge 5-2. Trevecca collected its first-ever win over Ohio Dominican in post season play last season.
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME ONE
NU 3, TNU 2 – F/8
Three of the game's five runs were to be scored in the first inning. After the first two Timberwolves reached base, Trojan starter Ashlan Sensing got two quick outs. A two-run triple down the left field line gave Northwood the 2-0 advantage before Sensing could get out of the inning, though. The Trojans had runners on second and third base in the bottom half of the inning with two outs and scored off a wild pitch to split the lead in half. Sensing went on to toss 13 of her career-high 15 strikeouts in innings two through seven for Trevecca who managed to the tie the game in the fifth. A leadoff double by Gracie Kirby set the tone. Callie Williams came on as a pinch runner and touched third after a sacrifice bunt off the bat of Malone Thrift. Anna Bennett then singled in the tying run. Trevecca threatened in the bottom of the six where it had bases loaded but came away empty handed. Northwood received a gift in the form of a hit-by-pitch to begin the eighth inning which it cashed in on. After a sacrifice bunt put the leadoff runner in scoring position, Timberwolves' third baseman Delanie Gale singled to right center field to bring home the winning run. The Trojans managed to get the tying run to second but no further as they fell, 3-2.
CIRCLE AND BOX NOTES
* Anna Bennett was 1-4 with an RBI.
* Kendall Andrews went 1-4 and scored a run.
* Ashlan Sensing fell to 22-7 with another complete game performance.
* Sensing pitched all eight innings while throwing a career-high 15 strikeouts with eight hits and three earned runs.
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME TWO
TNU 3, ODU 2
The Trojans flipped the script in game two, but not after a scare from Ohio Dominican. The Panthers scored two runs and collected two of their three hits in the game in the second inning. The Trojans got one run back in the bottom of the third when Maddie Poschke hit her third home run of the season over the left field wall. Both sides had baserunners in the fourth and left one on before the Trojans took control in the fifth. With two outs and Kendall Andrews standing on first after a walk, Maddie Poschke stepped in. Poschke smashed a ball out to left field for a two-run which more importantly gave the Trojans a lead, 3-2. The Panthers were sat down in order in the sixth and seventh as the Trojans survived to play tomorrow.
CIRCLE AND BOX NOTES
* Maddie Poshcke was 2-2 with three RBIs and two runs scored.
* Kyleigh Burgett went 1-3 and had a stolen base.
* Halle Grace Patton improved to 13-3 by pitching 5.2 innings of relief work. She struck out just one batter but did not allow a hit and was efficient with just 45 pitches thrown.
NEXT ON THE DIAMOND
The Trojans take on the University of Findlay Oilers (32-19, 17-9 Great Midwest) tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. in an elimination game.
Trevecca holds a narrow 7-6 all-time lead in the series with Findlay. The Trojans and Oilers have met twice in the postseason with each side victorious once. Trevecca more recently ousted Findlay 11-3 from the Great Midwest tournament in the 2021 season.
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