NATCHEZ — Following the 7-0 loss to Franklin Academy, Trinity softball head coach Miranda Smith was frustrated about having to change her game plan.

Going into the contest, Smith prepared pitcher Kailey Hutchins to paint the corner with strikes. Smith said Hutchins executed, but the Saints weren’t getting the calls.

Because Hutchins had to alter her game plan, she started pitching down the middle, offering up softballs for Franklin Academy to crush out of the infield. Franklin Academy took a 2-0 lead.

“I expected us to be allowed to play the game more,” said Smith whose Saints defeated Franklin Academy earlier in the season. “It’s funny because I gave the girls a speech and what I talked about was controlling what you can control. Obviously, we can’t control the umpires.”

Trinity would dig itself in a hole in the next three innings with two wild pitches and four errors committed.

The sloppy play is exactly what Smith tried to avoid, especially going against one of the better teams in the state.

“Defense keeps you in the ballgame,” Smith said. “Offense helps, had we generated offense it might’ve helped, but we have to stop making those defensive mistakes.”

Trinity’s offensive woes can be attributed to Franklin Academy’s Kassie Shipley, who limited the Saints to one hit in a shutout victory. Smith wasn’t happy about her team’s unwillingness to adjust at the plate; however, she acknowledged Shipley was the hardest throwing pitcher her team faced all season.

“She dominated the game,” Smith said. “She threw hard, but we just didn’t make the adjustment. I don’t feel like the pitches were moving. It’s partly on me because we haven’t worked on those adjustments, but we will.”

Tail Beard recorded the only single for the Saints. Franklin Academy recorded nine hits and did not commit an error in the game.

The Saints fall to 7-8 on the season.