ANGOLA, Ind. - In the annual battle between the two biggest softball rivals in the MIAA, the fourth ranked Trine University squad bested Alma College, sweeping the Scots 2-1 and 8-1. The Thunder improve their record to 23-3 on the season and 6-0 in the conference. The losses were the first for Alma in conference play.
Game one was a true pitchers dual from two of the conferences’ best in Trine senior Andi Gasco (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) and Alma’s Louise Rezmer.
Alma would strike first with their only run of the game in the fourth. The Scots would get a leadoff single followed by a sacrifice bunt. One out later, Alma would plate the run on a Trine error.
It took the Thunder until the sixth to being to break down Rezmer, until that point Trine was unable to get more than one runner on base in an inning. In the sixth, sophomore Carly Searles (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) would reach on a leadoff single and then steal second. The Alma defense would then attempt to put Searles out at second, allowing freshman Kaitlyn Clark (Mount Juliet, Tenn./Wilson Central) to reach on the fielder's choice. Sophomore Amy Newell (Three Rivers, Mich./Three Rivers) would deliver for the Thunder with a single up the middle to score Searles from second. Trine would get a one-out single from senior Lauren Harris (Uniontown, Ohio/Hoover) to load the bases, but the Thunder would be unable to plate another run as the game was tied going into the seventh.
After the Scots got two hits in the top of the seventh, Gasco would strike out the final batter to end the Alma rally and give the Thunder a shot to win it in the bottom of the inning.
Not wasting any time in their half of the inning, sophomore Rachel Harris (Uniontown, Ohio/Hoover) knocked a double to center on the first pitch she saw. Harris would then be lifted for pinch runner freshman Allison Lang (Rome City, Ind./East Noble). One out later, it would be Searles with the bloop single down the right field line to score Lang from second and send the Trine bench spilling onto the field in celebration.
Gasco earned her 11th win of the season on the mound, allowing just the one unearned run on five hits while striking out six.
Rezmer would start game two for Alma, but the Thunder wouldn’t waste any time getting to the Scots ace this time as they plated runs in the first four innings.
In the first, Searles would strike out swinging on a ball in the dirt, but the throw by the Alma catcher hit Searles in the helmet, allowing her to advance to second. After a walk to Clark, it would again be Newell driving in a run on a single up the middle.
In the second, senior Sarah Belote (Bronson, Mich./Bronson) led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Two outs later, Searles would reach on an infield single to put runners at the corners. Clark would then step in and deposit the 2-1 pitch from Rezmer over the left field fence for the fifth homer of the season. It was just the second home run of the season that Rezmer had allowed.
Trine would get a leadoff double from Gasco to start the third, but would she be thrown out at the plate trying to score on a single by sophomore Leah Hall (Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central). Belote would then drive Hall in on a single to left.
The Thunder would continue to take advantage of getting their leadoff batters on as Searles reaching to start the fourth on an infield single to the second baseman. After stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch, Searles would score on a sacrifice bunt by Newell.
Alma scored their lone run in the sixth as Trine pitcher, sophomore Bree Fuller (Hubbardston, Mich./Fulton), started the inning with to back-to-back walks. Alma’s Lea Lusk would drive in a run on a double, but the trail runner would be thrown out at the plate on a Searles-to-Daniels-to-Belote connection.
In the seventh, the Thunder would tack on two more runs, all coming with one out. After a walk to Gasco, Lauren Harris doubled to left center, scoring Gasco. One out later it would be Belote with a single to right center that scored Harris from second.
Fuller would retire the Scots in order in the bottom of the seventh to give the Thunder the sweep.
The six runs Trine put up on Rezmer is tied for the most she has given up all season.
Fuller would earn her ninth win of the season in the circle for the Thunder, allowing just one earned run on three hits while striking out eight Alma batters.
It’s the second straight season Trine has swept Alma in conference play.
On the day, Searles led the Thunder going 5-for-7 with four runs scored and an RBI. Belote collected four hits on the day and a pair of RBIs. Gasco and Lauren Harris each had three hits on the afternoon. Newell and Hall also had a pair of hits on the day. Newell and Clark led the Thunder on the day with three RBIs respectively.
Trine will get right back to action as they travel to Adrian on April 15 for a 3:30 p.m. conference doubleheader.