KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The Trine University softball team started today with a win over Penn State Berks by the score of 5-0. Five runs would not be enough in their second game as they fell to Widener University by the score of 7-5.
In the first game, both teams entered the fifth inning scoreless. The Thunder changed that quickly as they came up to bat in the bottom half of the inning. With one out they loaded the bases and then picked up two runs on an error to take the initial lead.
They would add three more runs on three separate swings of the bat to push the lead to 5-0.
Junior Hannah Kampmann (St. Paul, Minn. / Cretin Derham Hall) started the contest before being relieved by senior Kate Saupe (Farwell, Mich. / Farwell) who finished off the combined shutout. Saupe picked up the win with four strikeouts in relief.
The offensive attack in the contest was a balanced one with four different members of the team recording an RBI. Sophomores Mercede Daugherty (Watervilet, Mich. / Watervilet) and Haley Springer (Crestwood, Ky. / Oldham County) along with juniors Claire Ryan (Union Grove, Wis. / Union Grove) and Michaela Hartline (Niles, Mich. / Brandywine) all batted in runs.
The Thunder offense picked up where it left off in the second contest of the day. In the top of the first inning, junior Makenna Hartline (Niles, Mich. / Brandywine) gave the team the early lead with a two-run homer, her first of the season.
The opposition tied the contest in the bottom half of the inning with a two-run double.
Freshman Lexi Ayers (Logansport, Ind. / Logansport) gave the Thunder the lead again in the second with her first home run of the season.
The team extended their lead to 5-2 in the top of the fifth when Makenna Hartline added two more RBIs with a two-run double.
In the bottom half of the inning, the Pride took the lead for good with a five-run inning. The Thunder were unable to respond and lost the contest 7-5.
Trine finishes the day 2-2 following the win and loss. They will continue their spring break slate of games with contests against Bates College and Houghton College.