Trinity Softball Drops Series Opener At Home Against Colby

Hartford, Conn. - Sophomore RHP Julia Saul (Palo Alto, Calif.) tossed a four-hitter with two walks and three strikeouts to lead the visiting Colby College Mules to a 3-1 victory over the Trinity College Bantams in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) East Division softball action this afternoon.  Trinity falls to 15-10 and Colby improves to 11-13, while both teams are now 3-4 in the division with a noon doubleheader scheduled for today to complete a three-game weekend series. Today's game included an hour delay in the fourth inning due to lightning.

Colby took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on a two-out RBI double by Tori Sansone, but Trinity first-year C Nicole Towner (Erie, Colo.) tied it with a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth inning.  In the top of the fifth frame, Sansone doubled with one out and advanced to third on a single by Skylar Labbe.  Colby's Emily Schatz tripled home both Mules for the game's final two runs, but was stranded at third.  Trinity advanced runners to second base with two outs in both the sixth and seventh innings, but Saul got out of trouble both times.

Trinity sophomore righty Rachael Smith (Winchester, Mass.) also went the distance, allowing nine hits and walking four with four strikeouts.  Towner's bomb was the only extra-base hits off Saul, as Trinity senior 2B Elizabeth McQuaid (Lowell, Mass.) and sophomore outfielders Erica Merullo (Lynnfield, Mass.) and Meaghan Race (Grand Rapids, Mich.) each had singles for the home team.  Sansone and Samantha Rizzo were both 2-for-3 offensively for the Mules, while Grace Farnkoff was 2-for-2.  Colby ran into outs three times on the bases including twice on Bantam double plays.