Triton drops NJCAA Tournament opener

Things spiraled out of control quickly for the Triton College softball team in the first game of the NJCAA Division II championship May 25 in Oxford, Alabama. The No. 7 seeded Bulldogs took advantage of four walks and a hit batter to put a six-spot on the board in the first inning and never looked back to top the Trojans 11-2 in five innings.
 
Triton, the No. 10 seed will have to win their way through the loser's bracket just like they did during the Region 4 tournament to keep their season alive. The Trojans will play No. 15 seed Delaware Tech in an elimination game Wednesday, May 26 at Noon.
 
A tight strike zone did not help the command of Triton ace Alyssa Stramaglia (Fenwick) early on. Mississippi Gulf Coast (34-14) had the first two batters reach on a walk and a hit batter before Bulldogs third baseman Kristian Jones launched a three-run homer to dead center.
 
Stramaglia had more location issues as she then walked the bases loaded with one out. Mississippi Gulf Coast would make it 4-0 on a ground out and then the big inning was capped by a two-run single by Sarah Brannon.
 
The Bulldogs added to their lead in the bottom of the second. Mississippi Gulf Coast got another free pass with one out. Then Rakeya Travis hit a two-run shot to center to give the Bulldogs a commanding 8-0 advantage.
 
Triton (53-9) did their best to battle back with a pair of runs in their half of the third. Katlyn Cherry (Hebron, IN) plated Carissa Bombardiere (Geneva) on a one-out single to get the Trojans on the board. Triton would score their other tally later in the inning when Celeste Boshold (Elmwood Park) reached on an error to bring home Melissa Gonzalez (Guerin Prep).  
 
Stramaglia kept the Mississippi Gulf Coast off the board in the third inning but got wild in the fourth as the Bulldogs scored three runs, cashing in off a pair of walks and hit batters. For the game Stramaglia uncharacteristically walked 10 and hit three batters in taking the lost for the Trojans.

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