The Triton College softball team had to work for a two-game sweep of its Region 4 Division II quarterfinal series over Illinois Valley Community College May 9 to qualify in the District B Final Four double-elimination tourney May 13 at Noon against Madison College in Rockford.
The 4-1 and 6-2 victories over the competitive Eagles pushed the Trojans' record to 41-19 as
McKenzie Johnson's stellar long-relief work in Game 1 and
Claire Stillwell's bounce-back start in the nightcap kept the hosts out of more trouble.
A six-run fourth inning in Game 2, sparked by
Tiffany Lepic's first homer of the year with two on, clinched head coach
Christina Christopher's 300
th career victory at Triton.
"It's bittersweet, but I'm excited for the team," Christopher said of her milestone taking place during the season's final home game, in which she played all seven sophomores. The team gave their coach a celebratory ice-water bath after the final out.
"We're so happy for her, so happy we can be here for her," said Lepic.
Christopher came full circle as a winning coach, having played at Triton, then served as an assistant coach.
"As a player I really enjoyed my time here," she said. "As an assistant coach, I saw what the program could be. When we all worked together, it was great to flip the program around."
The Trojans slow offensive starts in both games could have been connected to not having played Illinois Valley previously this season, and being somewhat unfamiliar with starting pitchers Katie Bates and Hollie Shriber.
Triton initially struggled to score in the opener while Johnson (18-6) had to relieve Stillwell in the third inning. She stymied an Eagles rally after the first three batters reached. Johnson went on to strike out nine in four shutout innings. She now has 217 strikeouts in 143 innings.
But also inserted in the lineup as the designated player, Johnson collected a single in the bottom of the fifth to finally give Triton a 2-1 lead against Bates.
"If I'm pitching and hitting in the same game, I've got to make sure one is on point," she said. Fortunately for the Trojans, both were against the Eagles.
Breanne Deutscher's RBI double broke some personal and team frustration to put Triton on the board moments before Johnson came through.
"After my first at-bat, I was really upset," she said. "My next at-bat I had to put everything in it. I'm happy we were able to put it together to keep it going."
Nikke Burke's and
Meadow Fornuto's RBI singles completed the Trojans' Game 1 scoring in the bottom of the sixth.
After the Eagles scored first in Game 2, Lepic's three-run homer broke up Shriber's scoreless outing in the bottom of the fourth to relieve some more Triton tension.
"I knew our team was getting a little down, we hadn't scored yet," Lepic said. "It's now or never. I was confident in my swing. It was great. It's the first one of my season so it's pretty exciting."
Burke and Fornuto struck again with a two-run single and RBI single, respectively, to finish the six-run outburst.
Meanwhile, Stillwell rebounded from her shaky Game 1 outing with a complete-game performance, helped by her own acrobatic fielding.
With the first two Eagles runners aboard in the second, Stillwell made a diving catch in front of the mound of a popup. She then struck out the next two hitters to stem the rally.
"Any way I can help my team," Stillwell said. "I am willing to go out of my way to take chances and make that dive."Â
The hard day at the office booked the travel to Rock Valley's field this weekend for the second-seeded Trojans.
"Rock Valley and Madison are good teams," said Johnson. "I know me and Claire have to give our 'A' game so we can push forward."
Christopher did not win as many games as she has without a positive outlook.
"I think we're going to come out really strong and I think our team will be ready to play," she said.
Â
Follow Triton Athletics on TwitterÂ
@TritonTrojans1Â or on InstagramÂ
@Triton_College_Athletics
(Story by tritonathletics.com contributor George Castle)
Â
