Aurora, Illinois - The Blue Devils softball team traveled to Illinois to play a double header against Trinity Christian College on the weekend.  Both teams matched up pretty evenly going into the weekend as Game 1 was a battle to the end. LTU is coming off two wins in their last DH and we're looking to build off that against Trinity Christian. The Blue Devils last week connected with the bats all weekend long as their offense scored 18 runs total on the weekend. LTU lost Game 1 by a final score of 10-9. The final score of Game 2 on the weekend was 4-1.
 
LTU's offense was flaming hot in the first game as they put together 4 runs on 4 hits in the first 2 innings. The team did give up an 8 run 3^rd inning on 5 hits to the Trolls of Trinity Christian. LTU crawled back in the top of the 7^th scoring 5 runs of their own. Trinity scored 2 in the bottom of the 7^th.

Game 1 (LTU 9, Trinity 10): The entire lineup seemed to find some holes on the afternoon starting the game blazing hot scoring 4 runs early. Leading off for the Blue Devils was infielder, Sarah Hige as she had four plate appearances going 3-4, and 2 runs. Batting in the cleanup spot for LTU was infielder, Brittany Wieland going 2-4, 2 Runs, 3 RBI having herself a day at the plate. Catcher, Haley Mazon went 1-4, 1 run, 2 RBI. Some other Blue Devils who were also able to score a couple runs on the day were Elizabeth Coon and Leah Kadlitz.

How it Happened: Left hander, Madison Shumaker got the call from coach to start the game on the mound for LTU in Game 1. She pitched 2.1 innings giving up 4 hits, 8 runs and 6 ER, 3 BB's and 0 strikeouts. Shumaker threw a total of 46 pitches on the day. Right hander, Clover Brandt came in from the bullpen where she finished the game pitching a total of 4.1 innings. Brandt gave up 4 hits, 2 runs, and 1 strikeout. She threw a total of 70 pitches in the game. The offense was clicking very early in this game putting up runs and hits early scoring 4 runs within the first 2 innings. It became more of a pitcher's duel after the hot start, where both teams were scoreless from the 4^th-6^th inning. Finally showing some life again in the top of the 7^th, LTU had the bases loaded as Mazon singled to right field to bring in 2 RBI. Wieland was up next after her, and hit a home run bringing in 2 more runs. This gave LTU the lead 9-8 headed into the bottom of the 7^th. Brandt was caught up in a jam in the bottom half of the 7^th, so Makayla Benz came in for her to try and close the game out. Trinity Christian was able to score two runs in the inning to win 10-9.

The Blue Devils batters finished Game 1 with 6 RBI, 7 KO's, and 12 hits. Defensively, LTU only had one forced error in the game. The Blue Devils team batting average was .400, leaving 3 runners left on base. Shumaker faced 16 batters, while Brandt faced 18 batters.

Game 2 (LTU 4, Trinity 1): Makayla Benz was on the bump for the Blue Devils in Game 2 and dealing all day pitching a complete game gem giving up 1 ER and 5 strikeouts. Total of only 102 pitches, facing 27 batters. Trinity Christian was held to only 5 hits on the day. LTU held a comfortable lead throughout the game as they were able to score 1 run right in the 1^st, 3^rd and 5^th innings. The offense gave Benz the confidence to pitch aggressively. Trinity snagged only 1 run in the bottom of the 5^th. LTU won this game 4-1. 
 
How it Happened:  For the most part, LTU had control of the whole game from the get go. They strung together 11 hits as a team. Haley Mazon doubled to left center in the 1^st inning to score the first run of the game. Sidney Croskey drove in a run by hitting a double to left center as well in the top of the 3^rd. Sophomore, Katie Courneya had a solid day at the dish, going 2-3 with 2 RBI. She had a 2 RBI single in the 5^th to give LTU a 4-0 lead going into the bottom half of the inning. Other notable Blue Devils who had some hits were Tatum went 2-3, Wieland going 2-3 as well. The team's batting average in Game 2 was .407. They stranded 7 runners on base, were able to tag 3 RBI's with 2 outs.
 

On Deck: The Blue Devils (4-3) is on the road next week where the team plans to travel to Rio Grande, Ohio to play a double header against Rio Grande University on Friday, March 19^th The first pitch in game 1 will begin at 2 PM and the first pitch in game 2 will begin at 4 PM. The game will be played at the Stanley L. Evans Memorial Athletic Complex.