Three multi-run rallies and a bases-loaded walk to end it capped a comeback win for TBC in a seesaw Game 2, and a well-pitched, well-defended Game 1 won it for the visitors as TBC Eagles Softball split the home double-header with South Region rival Paine College on Saturday afternoon. Trinity rallied from behind twice to win the nightcap 15-14 after Paine won the opener 4-0.

Game 2: Eagles 15, Paine 14

Ellarie McGatha drew a bases-loaded walk with one out in the bottom of the seventh to bring in Piper Young with the winning run. Young opened the inning with a sharply hit infield single and advance to third on a bunt single from Ashlee Shaw and a double steal. An out then a walk to Emma Wilen followed to set up McGatha, who notched her third RBI of the game.

[Ellarie McGatha had 3 RBI, including the game winner in Game 2 on Saturday.]

The Eagles rallied back from a 6-2 third-inning deficit with 5 runs, capped by Jessica Johnson's two-run double that tied the score at 6-6. McGatha was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring in the first run, and Carlin Payne drove home Kylea Duhig with a sacrifice fly before Johnson's double. Taylor Foster's single plated Johnson with the go-ahead run to give Trinity a 7-6 lead.

Paine, though, got those 5 runs right back in the top of the fourth. Marina Hinojosa (2), Alexis Mena (2), and Ana Gonzalez drove in the runs that put their team back in front 11-7.

Trinity, though, did not waiver. The Eagles scored 3 in the fourth. Duhig and Hannah Wilen each had run-scoring singles, and Shaw scored on a wild pitch in between. TBC trailed 11-10 at that point, but Paine got a two-run homer from Z'liyah Harris in the fifth to make it 13-10.

Lena Sellam hit the game's first pitch for a leadoff home run to start a 3-run furst-inning rally. Paine led 3-0 before TBC scored 1 in the first and 6-2 after the Eagles scored 1 more in the third.

The Eagles rallied again in the sixth to go up 14-13 on a Duhig RBI fielder's choice to score Shaw (leadoff triple), an RBI single from McGatha that had an overthrow to allow Duhug to score the tying run, and a go-ahead single from Johnson to give the Eagles the lead at 14-13.

Paine tied it up in the seventh on Mena's fielder's choice grounder. Young then got a groundout to retire the side and ended up the winning pitcher in relief.

The Eagles had 17 hits, highlighted by Young (4 for 5, RBI, 3 R), Shaw (4 for 4, 3 R), McGatha (2 for 3, 2 R, 3 RBI), and Johnson (2 for 4, R, 3 RBI). All batters contributed with either hits, runs, or RBI, most with at least one of each.

Game 1: Paine 4, Eagles 0

The Eagles struck the ball well the entire game but kept finding gloves, particularly that of center fielder Emmy Seguera. She caught 5 hard drives, 2 on the run, and turned a routine fly ball into an F8-2 double play. She also tripled and scored a run. Ana Cobas and Nakeira Mallory each had 2 hits and a run, and 5 teammates each had 1 hit.

Foster, Young, and McGatha hit safely for TBC, but starter Kayla Carter allowed only those 3 singles in 7 innings while walking 1 and striking out 2.

Young also went the distance for her eighth complete game of the season, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 9 hits, 1 walk, and 1 strikeout.

[Coach Blackmer and Coach Tiatague meet for the pre-game discussion.]

Next Up

The Eagles will take Spring Break off from competition then visit Florida State College at Jacksonville for two on Tuesday, March 25. Lake City's Florida Gateway College makes its first-ever trip to Trinity Softball Complex on March 31, and Lake Sumter State College comes to town on April 2.