KISSIMMEE, Fla.-- The Trine softball team closed out its performance in the Rebel Spring Games with a pair of victories Tuesday afternoon.
The Thunder shut out NCAA Regional foe Thomas More 4-0 behind a strong performance in the circle from senior ace Justine Robles (Long Beach, Calif./Lakewood). Trine followed that up with a 12-hit performance to defeat Hiram 8-1. Kaylee Fox (Vermilion, Ohio/Edison) knocked in three runs as part of a four-hit day to highlight the offensive efforts. The Thunder concluded its performance in the Rebel Spring games 4-2 overall. Thomas More fell to 4-2, while Hiram is 0-6.
Game One: Trine 4, Thomas More 0
Robles got the better end of the matchup between all-conference pitchers as she tossed the shutout to lead the Thunder to the victory.
The shutout is the 12th of Robles' Trine career, tied for third-most in team history. The senior allowed three hits, walked three and struck out six. Robles has allowed just 11 hits in her first 20 innings this season. She is one strikeout from reaching 300 in her career.
A pair of walks set the stage for a two-run second. With two outs, Emily White (Fortville, Ind./Mount Vernon) singled to bring home a run. The Thunder would tack on another run on an error.
An RBI-single by Fox made the score 3-0 through three. Fox concluded Tueday's games with seven hits in her last 11 at-bats. The sophomore has six RBIs through six games this season and is averaging more than one RBI per game in her career.
Alison Lang (Rome City, Ind./East Noble) added an RBI-double in the sixth to help chase Salzer from the game. Lang is off to a hot start to her senior season, batting .357 over her first 14 at-bats.
Salzer allowed three earned runs on nine hits, walked three and struck out one to take the loss for Thomas More.
Game Two: Trine 8, Hiram 1
The Thunder notched 12 hits and four pitchers combined to shut down the Terriers.
Hiram took the lead in the top of the third when Heather Pahoresky singled home a run. Trine would respond in a big way, loading the bases with nobody out on three singles. An RBI-single by Kaitlyn Clark (Mount Juliet, Tenn./Wilson Central), a sac fly by Kendra Marshall (Leesburg, Ind./Warsaw) and a two-run double by Fox gave Trine a 4-0 lead. Lainey McCue (Westlake, Ohio/Westlake) capped the scoring in the inning, with her first-career RBI coming on a single.
Catherine Porter (Canton, Mich./Plymouth Canton) added a two-run single in the fifth. Another sac fly by Marshall in the sixth capped the scoring.
Mollie Lovasko (Whiting, Ind./Whiting) picked up the victory in her two innings of relief work. The sophomore allowed an earned run four hits, walked one and struck out two. Katie Saupe (Farwell, Mich./Farwell) made her collegiate debut in the circle and fired two innings of one-hit relief.
Trine will face No. 14 Linfield Thursday at South Commons Stadium in Columbus, Ga. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. The Thunder will remain in Columbus to compete in the NFCA Leadoff Classic throughout the weekend.