Danklefsen Notches 400th Win as Thunder Sweep Olivet

Danklefsen Notches 400th Win as Thunder Sweep Olivet

OLIVET, Mich. -- No. 4 Trine swept Olivet in MIAA action Sunday afternoon to give head coach Don Danklefsen his 400th career victory.

Danielle Ray (Hamilton, Ohio / Badin) tossed a complete game, four-hit shutout and the Thunder hit three home runs in an 8-0 victory in game one to give Danklefsen his 400th win. Danklefsen is the second coach in any sport in school history to achieve the milestone. Trine hit three more home runs in a decisive 12-1 victory in game two to earn the sweep. The Thunder improved to 24-2 overall and 5-1 in MIAA play. The Comets fell to 9-17 overall, 0-6 in conference play.

Kaylee Fox (Vermilion, Ohio / Edison) homered twice to move into sole possession of second place in team history with 39 career home runs. Fox is now three homers away from tying Trine's career record of 42 held by Andi Gasco (2010-13). Catherine Porter (Canton, Mich. / Plymouth Canton) homered twice and drove in five runs to add to the offensive effort on the day.

Game One: Trine 8, Olivet 0

Ray's run of dominance continued and nine extra-base hits gave the Thunder the game one victory and Danklefsen the coaching milestone.

Fox got the scoring started with a two-run homer to left center to move into second on the team's all-time list in homers. The long drive in the top of the first gave Trine a 2-0 lead. Porter added her first of two homers in the game an inning later to push the early lead to three.

Trine tacked on two more in the fifth on a RBI-double by Lainey McCue (Westlake, Ohio / Westlake) and a sac fly by Porter. A two-run double by Porter and an RBI-single by Makenna Hartline (Niles, Mich. / Brandywine) capped the scoring in a three-run seventh. Porter notched four RBIs in the game.

Ray was magnificent once again as she extended her scoreless streak to 30.2 innings. The freshman has now tossed four consecutive shutouts. She surrendered just four hits, did not walk a batter and struck out eight. Ray has not walked a batter in her last 36.1 innings pitched. She has struck out 45 during that span. Ray has now allowed an earned run in 33.2 innings and improved her record to 11-0.

Hartline notched four hits in game one. Carly Bachna (Elyria, Ohio / Elyria) added three hits, while Porter, McCue and Emily White (Fortville, Ind. / Mount Vernon) each notched a pair of hits.

Game Two: Trine 12, Olivet 1

Three homers and three big innings paced the Thunder offense in the victory.

Kristy Rawlings (Lizton, Ind. / Tri-West Hendricks) got the scoring started with her first career homer in the bottom of the second. The sophomore launched a two-run blast to center. Rawlings responded to her first two career starting assignments with a strong day at the plate, which also included her first career double in game one.

Back-to-back homers highlighted a three-run third. Claire Ryan (Union Grove, Wis. / Union Grove) connected on her first career homer, a two-run blast to increase the lead to 4-0. Fox followed with a solo blast to make the score 5-0.

A seven-run fourth put the game out of reach. Hartline was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in a run. Ryan followed with a two-run single. A wild pitch brought in another run, before Porter notched another RBI-single. Michaela Hartline (Niles, Mich. / Brandywine) capped the scoring in the inning with a two-run single.

Ryan had two hits and notched a career-high four RBI effort. Rawlings and Michaela Hartline added two RBIs apiece. Every Trine starter reached base via a hit or walk.

Kate Saupe (Farwell, Mich. / Farwell) picked up the victory in relief with 2.2 innings of work. She allowed one hit, walked one and struck out five. Saupe improved to 3-1 on the season.

Trine returns to action Saturday, Apr. 15 against Albion. First pitch at SportONE/Parkview Softball Field is scheduled for 1 p.m.