BRUNSWICK, Maine - The third-seeded Colby College softball team used a strong performance in the circle from sophomore
Sophia Meade to defeat sixth-seeded Trinity College of Connecticut, 4-1, on Saturday afternoon in a quarterfinal matchup of the NESCAC tournament at Pickard Softball Diamond on the campus of Bowdoin College to return to the semifinals for the second consecutive year and their third trip in the past four years.
Colby (26-10) struck first in the bottom of the first inning after senior
Carissa Cassidy led off the inning with a bunt-single to the pitcher, advanced to second on a perfect laid down sacrifice bunt by senior
Emma Burnham. Cassidy then moved to third on a wild pitch and scored the game's first run when junior
Juliana Kiley lined a two-out single to center field.
The Mules extended their lead in the second inning when sophomore
Julia Berry ripped a one-out triple to left center, allowing sophomore
Avery Lyman and senior
Kelsey Sullivan to cross the plate. Later in the frame, Burnham drove in Berry with a two-out double to left field to give the Mules a 4-0 lead. Lyman reached base on a single to center field while Sullivan walked.
Trinity (20-15) broke through in the fourth inning with their lone run of the afternoon off an RBI double down the left field.
Meade (11-2) was dominant after the third inning, retiring 12 of the final 15 batters she faced. The sophomore tossed a complete game, allowing just four hits and one run while striking out six.
Berry led the offense with a triple, two RBIs, a run scored and a stolen base while Sullivan, Cassidy, Burnham, Kiley and Lyman each recorded a hit in the victory.
The Mules will continue its quest for a NESCAC title on Sunday against second-seeded Middlebury College. First pitch of their semifinal contest is slated for 12:00 p.m. The winner between Colby and the Panthers will face the winner of top-seeded Tufts University and fifth-seeded Williams College in the championship game at 2:30 p.m.
