KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The Trine University softball team started their 2019 season with a win and a loss, dropping their first game 1-0 against Carthage College before defeating DeSales University 8-0.
The first game of the day against Carthage was all about pitching with both starters allowing just two hits in the contest. Junior Hannah Kampmann (St. Paul, Minn. / Cretin Derham Hall) pitched the complete game for the Thunder. She allowed just the one run on two hits while adding nine strikeouts in the contest.
Against DeSales, the Trine pitching was much the same with senior Kate Saupe (Farwell, Mich. / Farwell) shutting down the opposition from her spot in the circle. She finished the contest with five strikeouts and allowing just one hit.
The difference in the game for the Thunder came in the batter's box as the Thunder racked up eight runs in just five innings of work.
The scoring started early as sophomore Mercede Daugherty (Watervilet, Mich. / Watervilet) went long with just the team's second at-bat. The homerun was her first of the season and gave the Thunder the 1-0 lead. They would add three more runs in the inning to take a commanding 4-0 lead into the second.
The team added two more in the third inning and one in both the fourth and the fifth to end the game early with the 8-0 victory.
Both junior Michaela Hartline (Niles, Mich. / Brandywine) and junior transfer Victoria Porter (Canton, Mich. / Canton) led the way for the Thunder with two RBIs apiece. Both also recorded a triple in the contest.
Following their first day of competition, the Thunder find themselves with a 1-1 record. Today they will continue play in Florida with a pair of games. The first coming against Penn St.-Berks and the second coming against Widener.