The Trojans’ first two games of the season came against the 10th-ranked Liberty Lightning on May 27.

At the beginning of the first game, things were running smoothly for the Trojans. Senior Max Pech’s pitches flustered Liberty’s batters, as Pech recorded two strikeouts in the first two innings. However, in the fourth inning, Liberty rattled off consecutive doubles, earning two runs. The Bolts ended the sixth inning leading 3-0. The Trojans struggled to find offensive success, as they were unable to get their hitters around the bases to home.  After a couple of successful singles in the seventh inning, Annalyn Harms ’26 hit a double that sent Savannah Mathias ’28 to home base. Unfortunately, this flurry of hits wasn’t enough, and the game ended with a final score of 3-1 in favor of the Bolts.

There were several lineup changes for the second game. Relieving Pech, Ava Gladden ’28 got the start at the pitcher’s mound. While the first game got off to a slower start, the Bolts immediately started strong. They hit a double at the top of the second, eventually turning into a run. The night’s leading hitter, Harms, tried to respond with a double of her own, but the Trojans couldn’t capitalize on it. The Bolts were up 2-0 at the end of the third inning. Trying to stop Liberty’s momentum, the Trojans come up with a big double play where sophomore Delores Hubbard gets the Liberty runner out on third and slings it out to Keeley Hall ’27, who tags the runner on first base out. While it was a successful defensive fourth inning, the unrelenting Bolts came storming back in the fifth. A Liberty batter hits a deep ball wide left, and the Bolts score two more runs. They rack up two more doubles, leading to another score. At the bottom of the fifth, the Bolts’ lead surmounts to 8-0. With a change in the score required this year, the game ends 8-0 at the end of the fifth, via run-rule.

The Trojans look to bounce back with a doubleheader against Cedar Falls on May 29 at home.

Gallery • 5 Photos

Celia Sadewasser

Annalyn Harms '26 observes her display wristband to follow signals and signs before batting.