Thunder Sweep Ravens in Home Opener

Thunder Sweep Ravens in Home Opener

ANGOLA, Ind. -- The Trine University softball team started the home portion of their schedule right with a pair of victories over visiting Anderson (Ind.) University.

In the first game, the Thunder came up with three runs in the bottom of the first inning and then held off the Ravens for the rest of the game to come away with the 3-1 victory.

Juniors Claire Ryan (Union Grove, Wis. / Union Grove) and Michaela Hartline (Niles, Mich. / Brandywine) recorded RBI's in the contest, but freshman Taylor Murdock (Lapel, Ind. / Lapel) led the way with two hits.

Junior Hannah Kampmann (St. Paul, Minn. / Cretin Derham Hall) made the start in the circle and completed the entire game allowing just the one run while striking out three.

The second game of the day saw Trine flex their offensive muscle as they would eleven runs to take the contest 11-4.

They started the scoring in the second inning. Senior Lainey McCue (Westlake, Ohio / Westlake) hit a line-drive homer over the center field wall to score the first two runs of the contest. Later in the inning junior Makenna Hartline (Niles, Mich. / Brandywine) brought in her sister with a double, once again to center field.

The Thunder added to their lead in the fourth. Makenna Hartline came up big again with another double to center which cleared the bases scoring two. Murdock brought Makenna home with her next at-bat to give the team the 6-1 lead.

Anderson went on a run of their own in the fifth and sixth closing the game to two at 6-4.

Trine put the game out of reach in the sixth with five funs. Freshman Ashley Swartout (Westfield, Ind. / Westfield) started the scoring bringing in two with a single to right field. McCue brought in two more with a bases-loaded double. The final run came by sacrifice fly as junior Victoria Porter (Canton, Mich. / Canton) hit a ball to deep right field.

The team would go on to retire the side in the top of the seven to leave the field with an 11-4 victory.

Senior Kate Saupe (Farwell, Mich. / Farwell) pitched the complete game and finished with the win, her seventh of the season. She recorded seven strikeouts in the contest.

The Thunder improve to 12-2 following the win. They will begin Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play with a home doubleheader against St. Mary's College on Saturday, March 30. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.