Trinity Lutheran edged Orleans on Monday evening to remain unbeaten at 4-0 on the 2023-24 season. The Cougars were led by Grace Lance, who pitched seven shutout innings for Trinity in the 1-0 narrow win over the Bulldogs. Lance struck out 11 batters in the dominant effort

“Herbie and Orlando really pushed me to throw strikes tonight,” Lance said. “It’s important for me to continue pitching all season. I’m trying to keep my pitch counts low and trusting my stuff, they weren’t able to get much off of me tonight.”

Trinity Head Coach Herb Gross is in his first year with the Lady Cougars, racking up his first four wins. He spoke on another win for the Cougars.

“It wasn’t pretty, we didn’t look that great at the plate tonight,” he said. “Rutherford was the best pitcher we have seen so far this season, but, we didn’t handle it well, so we know what we have to work on as far as at-bats.”

Lance allowed 8 hits and one walk in her win on the mound. The game could have easily been more high-scoring as both teams left the bases loaded at one point in the contest.

Each team recorded eight hits. Trinity was led by Maddie Adams and Lance, who both recorded two hits. Adams drove in Morgan Brewer, who tripled to lead off the fourth inning.

Adams smoked a ball to deep center to get on third base. Lance then executed a bunt that stuck to the dirt. The pitcher made the play at home to get Adams, leaving the lead at one.

Brewer and Adams hit back-to-back triples to capture the win. Brewer spoke on finding her offensive groove in this early stretch of the regular season.

“The first game didn’t go as planned. But the second game I picked up some hits and found some rhythm at the plate,” Brewer said. “I was able to hit a home run in the third game and then obviously my triple tonight. I’ve been comfortable so far on the offensive side.”

Dianna Munoz recorded a hit as well, so did Cami Keaton and Addison Burcham. Trinity will face off with Southwestern (Hanover) on Thursday at Trinity Lutheran High School at 5:30 p.m.

Izzie Rutherford took the loss for Orleans, pitching six innings, allowing one run and striking out 10 batters.

Lance spoke on what the team must do in order to have a successful season.

“We have to continue to work together,” she said. “Teamwork is always good, we can never get separated. When I’m on the mound I trust my defense to make plays and always have my back. I know I have theirs. So we have to stay strong this year.

Coach Gross and Brewer both spoke on the opening stretch, as well as their upcoming schedule.

“We’ve been pretty good so far,” Brewer said. “Our defense and hitting have been okay, but we still need to improve on both of those things.”

“We’ve been doing everything right so far, our schedule is about to get stronger,” Gross said. “We have our work cut out for us, but so far so good.”

After Southwestern, Trinity will face Providence in a makeup game on Friday before competing in the Rising Sun Invite on Saturday. They then travel to Indianapolis Lutheran next Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

Their game Tuesday at Providence was officially canceled on Tuesday morning.

Orelans (0-1) at Trinity Lutheran (4-0)

Orleans; 0

Trinity Lutheran; 1

Hits: Trinity – Adams, Lance (2); Munoz, Burcham, Keaton, Brewer Orleans – Rutherford, Ralph (3); Abel, Frank

2B: Orleans – Abel 3B: Trinity — Brewer, Adams. RBI: Trinity – Adams

WP: Lance, Trinity. LP: Rutherford, Orleans