Titans fall to Saints in defensive dual

The Tri-City United softball team traveled to St. Peter Thursday night for a showdown against the Saints, a future Big South Conference opponent. Despite striking first in the game and recording seven hits, the Titans left too many runners on base and ultimately fell 5-1.

With the loss, just the second in the last seven games, TCU is now 5-8 (5-5 MRC) on the season with just four scheduled contests remaining ahead of postseason play.

Adison Schroer started the game in the circle for the Titans and pitched six innings, allowing five runs on 10 hits while striking out a trio of hitters.

In the top of the first inning, Lexi Factor reached first on an infield single to leadoff for TCU. After two outs were unable to move Factor along the basepaths, she stole second and third in rapid succession with Avery Lerfald working at the plate.

On a 1-2 count, Lerfald brought Factor home on an RBI single that never left the infield. In the bottom of the first, St. Peter put together a three-run response with a bases loaded walk scoring one run before a single brought two more runs across home plate.

The Saints managed to add two more runs in the bottom of the third but after that, defense ruled the day for both teams. A hard liner from Anne Cooper went straight to the St. Peter first baseman who was able to snag the ball while running back to first, resulting in a double play

Another defensive highlight came in the bottom of the fourth when Factor made a sliding stop at shortstop on a hard hit ground ball before turning to second, while still in the dirt, and making the throw for the out. In the bottom of the fifth, Lerfald adjusted at the last minute to a popup just behind first and made an outstretched grab that forced a Saints runner to return to first.

The offense for TCU just didn’t put the runs on the board to match the defensive effort down the stretch, resulting int he 5-1 defeat.

Factor finished the game going 2-3 at the plate while Lerfald, Schroer, Audrey Vosejpka, Cristina Cruz and Mallorie Plut all added at least one hit.

The Titans will quickly return to action Friday, May 10, when they travel to face off against NRHEG before hosting the final doubleheader of the season Tuesday, May 14, which will begin at 4 p.m.