Another outstanding season for the Triton College softball team came to a conclusion following the Trojans 8-0 loss at the hands of Kirkwood Community College (IA) in an elimination game Saturday night at the NJCAA Division II Softball Championship in Oxford, Ala.
The Trojans finished the year 50-9. A sophomore loaded squad, Triton the last two seasons made consecutive national tournament appearances and had a combined record of 103-19 (.843) during the span which may be looked at in future years as the "golden age" of the Triton softball program.
After the team showed the fight of a champion in keeping their title hopes alive in a thrilling 4-0 win over Potomac State College earlier in the day, the No. 7 seeded Eagles slowly took charge in the third meeting between the teams during the season.
Kirkwood starter Kori Wedeking avenged a loss at Triton a month ago when the teams split a doubleheader with a complete-game shutout, scattering six hits to claim her 20th victory.
Claire Stillwell got the start for the No. 8 seeded Trojans and yielded an unearned run in the third which gave Kirkwood (46-16) the early advantage. Stillwell, was lifted for
Alyssa Stramaglia with runners at first and second with one out in the top of the fourth.
The Triton ace, who got the win over Potomac State to start the day, wiggled out of trouble, picking up the final two outs, including notching her 300th strikeout of the season to keep it a 1-0 game.
However, the Eagles did the majority of their damage with two outs. Kirkwood used a two-out rally to score four runs in the top of the fifth. The big blow was a two-run triple by Chelsea Buck to put the Eagles ahead 5-0.
Brooke Killburg would add a two-out, two-run single in the sixth inning as the Eagles scored their first seven runs with after two outs.
The Trojans best chance to score off of Wedeking came in their half of the sixth.
Samantha Richardson and
Carissa Bombardiere opened the frame with back-to-back singles. Then
Melissa Gonzalez lined a base-hit to left. Richardson attempted to score from second and was called out on a close play at the plate which derailed any hopes for a potential Triton rally.
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