A 6-run fourth and a 3-run seventh were the big innings, and TCJ Eagles Softball walked of NAIA Ave Maria University in the first game of Friday's season-openng double-header for a 10-9 win. Ave Maria, though, scored multiple runs in each inning of Game 2 to earn the split as each team notched its first win of the season.

Game 1: Eagles 10, Ave Maria 9

Madison Whitmeyer raced home with the game-winning run to cap a three-run rally as Trinity came from behind to win it. With the bases loaded and nobody out in the bottom of the seventh, Piper Young rolled a grounder to the shortstop. The throw home dropped out of the catcher's mitt to allow Whitmeyer to score the game winner.

Trailing 9-7 as the at bat started, the Eagles rallied for three. Peyton Flynt walked to start the inning and advanced to third on Kylea Duhig's double to right. Whitmyer walked to load the bases. Carlin Payne then reached on a throwing error that allowed Flynt to score the first run of the inning. Ashlee Shaw singled to left to bring in Duhig, and the bases remained loaded for Young. 

[Coach Rob Blackmer leads the Eagles to victory in the season opener.]

In the six-run fourth, the Eagles got RBI hits from Ellarie McGatha and Duhig with a sacrifice fly from Cali Dunn in between. With two outs, Payne reached on an error that allowed Duhig to score, and Shaw then reached on an error to plate Whitmeyer (walk). Nicole Yi's RBI double in the sixth tied the score at 7-7, but Ave Maria got solo home runs from Mary McIntyre and Hailee Howe to take a 9-7 lead. McIntyre had already homered in the fourth, and Ashley Lykins went deep in the sixth. 

Young pitched a complete game for the win, allowing 9 earned runs on 17 hits while striking out 4 and not walking a batter. At the plate, Young was 1 for 3 with 2 walks and a run scored.

Shaw was 2 for 5 with 3 RBI and a run scored while Duhig had 3 hits and 1 RBI while scoring twice to lead the Eagles. 

Game 2: Ave Maria 17, Eagles 3

Young homered in the bottom of the first to put the Eagles on the board, and the offense rallied for two more in the third, but Ave Maria punded out 14 hits and took advantage of some miscuses to win Game 2. 

In that third inning, Shaw's two-out single opened the door. Young followed with a fly to right that dropped safely, and Shaw scored on the error. Yi followed with a double to left that brought in Young. 

McGatha, Shaw, Young, and Yi all hit safely for the Eagles. Lykins was 3 for 4 with 2 runs and 4 RBI to lead AMU, who also got multiple RBI from three more batters. Ten differnet AMU hitters recorded hits.

Next up: 

The Eagles will play two at home against USCAA John Melvin Christian College on Saturday beginning at 1:00 p.m. On Monday, Trinity visits NCAA Division 2 Edward Waters University for a twin bill starting at 1:00 p.m. NAIA Truett-McConnell University comes to town on February 14, followed by NCAA Division 2 Savannahh State Univeristy at home on February 21.