With three five-inning victories this week, one word describes the Trinity Lutheran softball team’s performance best: dominant.

The Cougars took advantage of a number of Southwestern (Shelbyville) mistakes to win 14-2 in a run-rule game Friday.

Things started out shaky for the Cougars in the first inning, as they allowed two runs on a pair of wild pitches from senior Natalie Plofkin.

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However, Plofkin regained her composure in the circle and at the plate the rest of the way.

In the bottom of the first, the Cougars got on the board with an RBI double to center field from Plofkin.

The Cougars tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the second when freshman Morgan Gabbard, who was courtesy running for senior Liz Hill, scored on a wild Spartans pitch.

Another wild pitch scored sophomore Kirstin Hoene prior to an RBI bunt from freshman Jodi Goecker.

Junior Taylor Reynolds hit an RBI single, the Cougars scored two-consecutive runs off walks on loaded bases, and another score came off a wild pitch to give Trinity an 8-2 advantage after two innings.

Plofkin hit another RBI single in the third and Goecker came in off a wild pitch to put the Cougars in double digits.

Trinity sophomore Taylor Reynolds hit an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth to put her team up 11-2. Two runs then came in for the Cougars off another Southwestern wild pitch and a throwing error to first base.

The final score on the night came off an RBI single by Plofkin.

While the Cougars did come away with the easy victory, coach Chad Goecker stressed to his girls the importance of not giving up errors for runs early in games.

“We are starting out making way too many errors mentally,” Chad Goecker said. “Our approach to the plate is consistently good, but mentally we’re not starting out strong. It’s going to be tough heading into the postseason. If we don’t get mentally tough we’re not going to win many games.”

With sectionals just over a week away, the Cougars have a tough schedule prior to the postseason.

“We’ve got Scottsburg on Monday, Hauser on Tuesday and Brownstown on Saturday,” Chad Goecker said. “We’ve got a good last two weeks. It’s going to be a tough challenge headed into the postseason.

Chad Goecker said he absolutely likes that his girls are ending the regular season playing tough opponents.