Trinity's offense powers past De La Salle

Updated: April 2, 2011 9:24AM

Chase Machain has every pitcher's dream luxury of knowing her team's loaded offensive line up always has her back.

Especially when she is less than perfect.

"It's very reassuring to know that even if I'm struggling, which I did today, they always are going to have my back and be able to score runs," the sophomore Trinity star pitcher said.

Fortunately, Machain aided her own cause by smashing a home run and driving in a personal-best five runs to power the No. 8 Blazers over De La Salle 12-3 Thursday afternoon at Triton College.

"That's only the second home run I've ever hit," she said of her two-run first inning blast. "I've put a lot of time in working on my game offensively and becoming a better hitter."

On the mound, the southpaw scattered just four hits and struck out three in running her record to 3-0. Trinity's other star sophomore, Nicole Evans, also smashed a two-run home run in the bottom of the third to help the Blazers (5-0) seize a 7-2 advantage.

Evans hit 15 home runs as a freshman. "I just waited on it, and the ball was right down the middle where I like it and I was able to make really good contact," Evans said.

Machain encountered some problems in the fourth, allowing three hits and a walk and twice loading the bases. She coaxed a strike out and a pop out and yielded just a single sacrifice fly RBI by the Meteors' Carolyn Roberts to escape any further damage.

Trinity sophomore Abby Ramirez belted the team's third home run, a drive to left-center, in the bottom of the fourth. Machain turned the game into a rout with a two-run single into shallow right during a four-hit, three-run sixth for the Blazers. Senior catcher Megan Bura added a run-scoring single in the sixth.

Junior Brittany Bura retired the side in the seventh. Machain finished 3 of 4 at the plate. Following Evans' home run in the third, she handcuffed De La Salle Kelly Crowley with a rocket shot down the line for a double. Trinity amassed 11 hits.

"Like I said, I thought I struggled early on, but we have so many weapons [offensively] and the team did a great job of picking me up," Machain said.

Third baseman Jaicie Botica had a double and RBI for the Meteors (1-2, 0-1).

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