ANGOLA, Ind. - In a stunning opening game of the 2013 NCAA Division III Angola Softball Regional, No. 8-seed Anderson University knocked off No. 1-seed Trine University by a score of 5-1, delivering the Trine Thunder its first loss since April 3 when it fell to Defiance in non-conference play.
Trine’s top pitcher and MIAA Most Valuable Pitcher of the Year senior Andi Gasco was called for multiple illegal pitch in the first two innings, giving Anderson extra opportunities to plate four runs.
“We didn’t play our game,” Trine head coach Donnie Danklefsen told a reporter who asked if the illegal pitch calls lost Trine the game. “It was all on us.”
“You can’t discount the fact we hit the ball and we had runners,” Anderson head coach Tony Holloway said. “Trine’s a great program and they’re not done in this tournament yet.”
At 2 p.m. Friday May 10, the Ravens will play the winner of the Aurora vs. Mount Union game.
Trine plays again Friday as well at 10 a.m. when it takes on the loser of the of the Aurora-Mount Union game.
The Ravens came out strong, scoring two runs in the first inning. Trine managed a single in the first inning, but didn’t score.
The Raven bats were hot in the second inning as the team scored two more runs on three hits. The start of the inning looked promising for the Thunder as it caught two balls in the outfield to retire the first two Raven batters. Sophomore Samantha Steel got on base and advanced to second after senior Megan Ream hit a single. A double to left field by senior Amy Wuestefeld brought in a runner, bringing the score to 4-0.
Sophomore Bree Fuller replaced Gasco on the mound in the third inning and the Ravens did not score.
Trine scored its lone run in the bottom of the third when sophomore Carly Searles hit a single and made her way to third on a fly ball hit by teammate freshman Kaitlyn Clark. She steamed into third and scored after the Ravens failed to cover the plate.
Trine kept the Ravens from scoring until the seventh inning, when Steele bunted to get to first. Trine threw out the next batter, before Wuestefeld hit a single. A single to centerfield by senior Katy Ogden left the bases loaded and sophomore Yardley Collett smacked a single to drive in a runner, bringing the score to 5-1.
Anderson starter, Right-hander freshman Sami Frazier was the winning pitcher allowing an earned run on three hits while striking out six.