Van Buren finds holes in HTC defense

KEOSAUQUA – The Holy Trinity girls lost their second in a row in a rough night at Van Buren County.
The Crusaders jumped out early, but couldn’t find the defense when they needed it, falling 15-7 to the Warriors.
It's the second loss in a row after winning five straight. The Crusaders have been streaky all year, they had a six-game losing streak before winning the five in a row.
They take on Lone Tree in the regular season finale Monday night on the road.
Holy Trinity led 5-4 after two and half, but the Warriors responded with four runs in the bottom of the third inning. Annabelle Cormier started the Warrior half with a single, then a walk, and a hit batter loaded the bases. Cormier would score on a wild pitch, but Crusaders' starter Mary Hellige would fan the next two hitters to get things back under control.
Van Buren freshman Lexi Wiley hit a two-run single and would drive in two hitters later when Ashlynn Huff singled. Hellige would get another strikeout to end the inning with the Crusaders down 8-5.
HTC would put up another run in the top of the fourth, but Van Buren would again score four in the fifth to open up a 12-6 lead. The Warriors would add three more in the bottom of the sixth and Holy Trinity would get one in the top of the seventh.
Halie Cain went 2-4 with an RBI to lead Holy Trinity at the plate. Kayla Box and Hellige each had two hits and two runs scored. Brooke Mueller and Sydney Jarvis also had hits for the Crusaders.
Hellige’s line was six innings, 13 hits, 15 runs with eight earned, while striking out five and walking three.
The Crusaders are 6-6 in the conference and 9-11 overall on the season.