Triceratops open Great Lakes District A Tournament with shutout of Muskegon C.C.

FINDLAY, Ohio (athletics.tri-c.edu) – After a day of delays and reschedulings, the Cuyahoga Community College Triceratops (31-6, 16-1 OCCAC) opened up their postseason with a 3-0 shutout win over Muskegon Community College (27-11, 19-6 MCCAA), May 7.

All of Triceratops offense came in the first inning, kicked off by Sophie Durbin (So./Mansfield, Ohio/Mount Vernon Nazarene) extending her hitting and scoring streak to 10 games with a leadoff single and scoring on a double by Reese Adkins (So./Oak Harbor, Ohio). A double by Adriana Guarnieri (Fr./Chillicothe, Ohio) scored the only other runs in the game.

The game, as a whole, was defined by defense and pitching. The Triceratops went with ace Julee Phillips (So./Cuyahoga Heights, Ohio), who threw a complete game shutout, only surrendering three hits and three walks on the day. The true defensive star for the Triceratops was sophomore second baseman Katelyn Smith (Columbus, Ohio), who single-handedly ended a Jayhawk rally in the top of the fifth, keeping the Triceratops in front and retaining the game's momentum.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Triceratops came out swinging, with Durbin roping a single to lead off the home half of the first. She would later score on a double to left by Adkins. A line drive off the bat of Guarnieri, followed by an error, drove in two more runs and accounted for the only runs scored across all seven innings.
• The Jayhawks had two runners on in the top of the second from a walk and single, but Phillips forced two infield popouts to escape the frame clean.
• The top of the fourth saw similar results, with two Jayhawks reaching base before two more infield popouts ended the inning.
• Again in the fifth, two Muskegon C.C. runners reached base with only one out. This time, it was Smith that closed the inning, snagging a line drive and quickly pivoting to touch second base for the inning-ending double play.
• In Muskegon C.C.'s final at bats, Phillips sat down the side 1-2-3 to seal the 3-0 victory.

UP NEXT

The Triceratops will continue their pursuit of the Great Lakes District A Regional Championship and a bid to the NJCAA Division II Softball World Series tomorrow, May 8, when they square off against the winner of Game 4 between No. 2 Mott Community College (32-11, 24-6 MCCAA) and Glen Oaks Community College/Kalamazoo Valley Community College. First pitch from the Marathon Diamonds, Field #3 in Findlay, Ohio is scheduled for 10:00 a.m.

Tickets are available at the gate or online. Any scheduling changes or time changes will be broadcast on the official website of Tri-C Athletics, athletics.tri-c.edu, and on the official Tri-C Athletics Instagram and X accounts.

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