Citrin

Beckwith

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Sophomore CF Jessica Tait (North Salem, N.Y.) went 2-for-4, including a solo homer to lead off the game and a two-run triple in the fourth inning, to lead the Trinity College Bantams to a 14-3 victory over the visiting Bates College Bobcats in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) East Division softball opener for both teams this afternoon.

Trinity improves to 5-4 with its third win in a row, while the Bobcats drop to 0-7. The teams will complete their three-game series tomorrow with a noon doubleheader. 

Bates struck first with a run in the top of the first frame on a double by junior 1B Val Beckwith (Woburn, Mass.) and a Bantam fielding error, but the Bantams responded with five runs in the bottom the inning en route to the five-inning, mercy rule triumph. 

After Tait tied the game in Trinity's first at-bat of the game, junior C Ariana Mullin (Woodbridge, Conn.) and freshman 3B Nicole Nardella (Beverly, Mass.) knocked in Bantam runs with RBI singles and two Trinity runs came home on illegal pitches. The Bobcats got one back in the top of the second frame, but Trinity answered with four in the bottom of the inning.

Trinity junior RHP Gabrielle Sergi (Walpole, Mass.) went the distance in the circle, allowing five hits, three walks, and one earned run with eight K's.  Junior DP Leah Citrin (Rye Brook, N.Y.) paced the Bates offense with a pair of singles. First-year starter Hannah Dwan (Litchfield, Conn.) took the loss for Bates.

BOX SCORE: Trinity 14, Bates 3