ANGOLA, Ind. - Trine University hammed two home runs by the fourth inning to secure a commanding lead over Capital University as it claimed game 10, 12-5, of the 2013 NCAA Angola Softball Regional.
The scoring started early and remained 5-5 until the fourth inning when Trine exploded with seven runs, four thanks to sophomore Leah Hall who homered with bases loaded. It was Hall’s third home run of the season with the first two coming in the last two weeks of league play. Neither team managed a run after that.
Trine won with senior pitcher Andi Gasco on the mound, her first appearance since the opener when she was replaced on the mound by sophomore Bree Fuller after multiple illegal pitches.
“I was just happy we were going to get some runs,” Hall said with a smile after the game. “We trust each other to get base hits and all of us put together get runs on the board.”
The scoring started in the first inning when Trine brought in two runners. Sophomore Carly Searles was walked by Capital pitcher sophomore Brooke Billings and then stole second. Freshman Kaitlyn Clark singled to the shortstop, advancing Searles to third. Sophomore Amy Newell grounded out, bringing in Searles. Senior Andi Gasco then doubled to left center to bring in Clark.
Capital answered with four runs. Senior Devan Boggs singled to center. Sophomore LeAnna Cotton reached first on fielding error and Boggs advanced to third. Sophomore Maura Rose reached when her suicide squeeze brought home Boggs. Senior Lexi Majoy then homered to left center and upped the score to 4-2 in Capital’s favor.
The second inning saw Trine’s Searles single to right to bring in two runs.
Capital scored a run in the second to take a 5-4 lead, but it would be the last for the Crusaders.
The Thunder batted around in the fourth as they scored seven times to secure the game. After Hall’s big home run, the Crusaders replaced Billings on the mound with sophomore Alyssa Patznick.
With Patznick on the mound, the Thunder’s scoring was stopped but it was too little too late.
Trine head coach Donnie Danklefsen commended his pitcher and team for strong batting.
“Gasco made really good adjustments and we had good batting,” he said in reference to the illegal pitches on Thursday when No. 1-seed Trine fell to No. 8-seed Anderson University, 5-1.
“The seniors came together to help Andi overcome it,” Hall said. “Andi’s been working really hard…and Lauren (Harris) watched her pitch” while other seniors also pulled together for Gasco.
It took two or three innings before Gasco got comfortable, Danklefsen said, noting that assistant coach Dennis Smith worked with her.
Pitching was also on Danklefsen’s mind as he looks ahead to this afternoon’s game against Anderson. “I imagine we’ll see Frazier,” he said, referring to Anderson pitcher freshman Sami Frazier. The Thunder will “attack in different ways and make them come to us,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll get a better start this time.”
Anderson lost, 6-2, to Aurora University on Friday afternoon. After defeating Trine on Thursday, head coach Tony Holloway said he would not count Trine out, and he was right.