Trojans face must-win scenario at Region 4 Tournament

The road to the Region 4 Division II championship has become much harder for the Triton College softball team after day one of the double-elimination tournament at Read Park in Freeport.

The Trojans will have to work their way out of the loser's bracket and need to win three games in order to win the regional title. The first must-win game will be Sunday, May 16 at 11:00 a.m. against Sauk Valley Community College.

No. 12 ranked Triton saw their 21-game winning streak get snapped by Bryant and Stratton College (WI) in the night-cap of the tournament by a 10-7 final on May 15.

The Trojans grabbed a first inning 1-0 lead on a Katlyn Cherry home run. However, that would be the only advantage that Triton would enjoy in the game as the Bobcats took the lead for good with three in the top of the second.

With the game tied at one, Joette Kassa hit the first of her three home runs on the evening for Bryant and Stratton. Her two-run shot made it 3-1. Kassa would later add a solo homer in the fourth that gave the Bobcats a 4-2 edge. But her biggest hit was a two-out grand slam home run in the top of the fifth to put Bryant and Stratton up 10-3.

Triton did battle back with three in the bottom half of the frame on a Kailey Kirkwood (Leyden) RBI double followed by a Samanta Nelson (Taft) two-run blast to pull the Trojans within 10-6.

Melissa Gonzalez (Guerin Prep) added an RBI double in the sixth, but the deficit was too much for Triton to overcome.

The Trojans opened the day by picking up win No. 50 in a 10-5 victory over Sauk Valley. The win marked the first time the Triton softball program has reached the 50-win plateau.

Carissa Bombardiere (Geneva) was a perfect 4-fo-4 with three RBI's and two runs scored. Her two-run triple in the second inning gave the Trojans a 3-2 lead.

Triton knocked out 14 hits against the Sky Hawks. Kirkwood had a pair of hits and scored a run. Erianna Claudio (De La Salle) in the nine spot reached base all three times with two hits and two runs scored.

Alyssa Stramaglia (Fenwick) came in relief in the third inning and shut Sauk Valley down, allowing one hit and striking out seven over the final 4.1 innings she pitched.
 
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