ANGOLA, Ind. - After a tough game one loss 2-1, the fifth ranked Trine University softball team came back in game two in a big way winning 9-3 to earn a split with Case Western Reserve University. The Thunder now sit at 16-2 on the season.
In the first game, Case scored their only runs of the game in the first inning off a leadoff single, followed by a walk and then back-to-back ground outs.
Trine’s lone run of the game would come in the sixth when freshman Kaitlyn Clark (Mount Juliet, Tenn./Wilson Central) hit her third home run of the season to left field on a 1-0 count.
Senior Andi Gasco (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) took the loss allowing two runs on four hits and striking out a batter.
It didn’t look good for the Thunder in game two as Case again jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first.
Trine would answer back in the bottom half of the inning as sophomore Carly Searles (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) was hit by a pitch to start the inning. After stealing second, Searles would come around to score on a single by Clark.
After Case plated a run in the second on a sacrifice fly, the Thunder would get a runner on in the bottom of the inning but would hit into an inning-ending double play.
Finally in the third, Division III’s fifth highest scoring offense came alive. Junior Jamie Lydick (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) would lead off the inning with a single and then advance to second on a sacrifice bunt. Lydick come around to score on a triple to the left center gap by Searles. Clark would single to once again drive in Searles. One out later, it was Gasco delivering on her 10th homer of the season on a 1-0 pitch to left center. Fellow senior Lauren Harris (Uniontown, Ohio/Hoover) would go back-to-back for the second straight series with a shot of her own to left field.
The Thunder would put the game away in the fourth as they plated three more runs. Junior Haleigh Daniels (Hamilton, Ohio/Hamilton) started things off with a double to the left center gap. After Searles flied out, Clark and sophomore Leah Hall (Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central) walked to load the bases. Gasco would come through again for Trine as she delivered her second triple of the season to clear the bases.
In the circle for the Thunder, freshman Justine Robles (Long Beach, Calif./Lake Wood) earned her third win of the season going four innings while allowing three unearned runs on six hits and striking out two. Sophomore Bree Fuller (Hubbardston, Mich./Fulton) came on to record her first career save pitching the final three innings, striking out one and allowing just one runner to reach base via a walk.
At the plate, Clark led the Thunder going 3-for-5 on the day with three RBIs and three runs scored. Lauren Harris also collected three hits on the day going 3-for-6 with an RBI and a run scored. Gasco led Trine with five RBIs while collecting two hits on the afternoon. Sarah Belote also collected two hits on the day while Searles scored twice on the bases.
Trine will take a couple of days off before returning to action on April 3 as they travel to Defiance for their rescheduled series from earlier in the month beginning at 3:30 p.m.