April 22, 2011

Story courtesy of Trevecca Nazarene Sports Information

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The sixth-ranked Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) Trojans (42-3, 29-1 TranSouth) clinched the outright TranSouth Conference regular season championship Thursday (April 21) with a doubleheader sweep of Freed-Hardeman University (Tenn.) (19-20, 14-12 TranSouth) on Senior Day at the Trojan Softball Complex. Trevecca won game one 11-7 and took the nightcap 11-2 to run their winning streak to 14 games. Seniors Karli Rush, Melinda Patterson, Monica West, and Kelsey Lantrip were honored following the games.

This the sixth TranSouth regular season championship for Trevecca over the last seven seasons. Trevecca has captured the TranSouth postseason tournament championship four of the last five seasons.

GAME ONE RECAP

Haylee Rogers stole the spotlight a bit from the seniors by belting three home runs and driving in five runs in the opening game victory. The freshman outfielder smacked a solo shot to lead off the third inning, and followed that up with a pair of two-run shots in the fourth and sixth innings, giving her 15 for the season.

The Trojans built a big early lead, scoring in each of the first four innings to take a 9-2 lead into the fifth. But Freed continued to battle, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the sixth to make it 9-4. Then, after Rogers' homer in the bottom of the inning, the Lions scored three more times in the seventh with no one out before Hannah Schnebly retired the next three batters to end the game.

Rogers ended up 3-4 with three home runs, five RBI, and three runs, while Rush and Breanna Zeis added two hits and two RBI apiece.

Lauren Baker (22-0) remained unbeaten on the season, allowing four hits and two runs in four innings, with three strikeouts and one walk. Schnebly pitched the final three innings in relief. Savannah Cole (2-4) took the loss for Freed-Hardeman.

GAME TWO RECAP

Trevecca jumped on top early again in the second game, scoring a pair of runs in the first inning. Kelsey Lantrip singled and Kari Mason bunted for a base hit to open the inning, and both came around to score. Lantrip scored on Lauren Baker's squeeze bunt, and Mason scored when Breanna Zeis reached on an error.

Melinda Patterson's second home run of the season made it 3-0 in the second, and each team scored twice in the third to make it 5-2 heading to the fourth. That's how it stayed until the sixth, when the Trojans scored six runs on six hits to end the game due to the mercy rule, with Rush smacking a double deep down the right-field line to drive in Patterson and Kari Mason with the game-clinching runs.

Mason led the offense with three hits and three runs scored. Haylee Rogers added a pair of hits, while Patterson, Rush, and Zeis added two hits and two RBI apiece.

Riley Mashburn (18-3) earned the victory, allowing five hits and two runs in six innings, with five strikeouts and four walks. Sarah Cousar (10-9) suffered the loss for the Lions.

Trevecca has one final regular season conference doubleheader remaining, a yet-to-be scheduled make-up with Blue Mountain College. The Trojans and Toppers were rained out on April 11th, and will play sometime next week at Trevecca.