MORGANTOWN — If you told Trinity Christian High head softball coach Colony Hopkins that her team would only have two hits but still win a game prior to Tuesday’s contest with Clay-Battelle, she may have told you that you were crazy.
But that’s exactly what happened for the Warriors (7-5) against the Cee-Bees (3-6) on Lynch Field at Mylan Park as TCS ended a three-game losing streak by defeating their inter-county rivals 9-1 in a shortened, five-inning game.
TCS starting pitcher Jillian Conn didn’t allow a hit in her five innings of work in the circle and struck out eight batters.
C-B allowed seven of the nine runs by way of a bases-loaded walk or an error as the Warriors only collected two total hits in the game.
“We just didn’t put the ball in play today,” CB head coach Jeremy Doslen said. “Our defense was pretty solid but the walks piled up and we couldn’t hit the ball. We even had some baserunners but left them out there.”
A scoreless first inning made way for TCS to break the ice in the bottom of the second. After the first run of the game came on a bases-loaded walk, freshman Peyton Moore came to bat and ripped a double up the middle to score two runs an extend the lead to 3-0.
TCS added another run before the end of the inning on a second walk with the bases full to go ahead 4-0.
“I was happy to see that we didn’t fold under a little pressure,” Coach Hopkins said. “We came out a little flat but we came around eventually. We tend to have a hard time waiting patiently for the ball to cross the plate batting, but I’m glad that we had a bounce-back game today after going to Myrtle Beach and playing some really good teams.”
The Cee-Bees brought home their lone run in the top of the fifth inning on an error by the Warrior infield to cut into the lead 4-1 but their offense wouldn’t get the chance to come to the plate again in the game.
TCS scored its fifth run on a fielder’s choice with one out and runners on second and third in the bottom half of the fifth inning.
The second error for C-B gave the Warriors another free run then Arlie Humphreys gave her team their second hit of the game to extend the lead to 7-1.
Two more walked batters by C-B gave TCS a 9-1 lead in the fifth inning, ending the game by mercy rule.
“We’ve been pretty consistent hitting,” Doslen said. “Trinity’s pitcher is really good, give her credit. We just have to get our timing down and make solid contact. You have a way better chance in the game if you hit the ball.”
Trinity picks up an important win after traveling to Myrtle Beach last week and dropping all three contests played on the trip. Hopkins said her team learned a lot during that span.
“We played schools with thousands of students and played full games with them last week,” she said. “Our girls learned that they can play with those teams and run with them. They grew a lot and continue to do so. Our pitching has been really strong so far and will be key going into the rest of the season.”
The Warriors will host Valley tomorrow at 6 p.m. while the Cee-Bees will return home on Thursday.
BOX SCORE
Trinity 9, Clay-Battelle 1
C-B 000 01 – 1 0 1
TCS 040 05 – 9 2 2
Clay-Battelle – Moore 2000 King 3000 Doslen 3000 Statler 3000 Price 0000 Stiles 2000 Whittaker 1000 Snyder 1000 Riggs 1100
Trinity – Moore 2012 Conn 2001 Hopkins 1002 Dunham 2100 Titus 2200 Flecker 2101 Kelley 1200 Humphreys 2212 Jenkins 2100
WP: Conn 5.0ip 0h 1r 6bb 8k
LP: Price 4.2ip 2h 9r 12bb 4k
