KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Trine University softball team brought the offensive firepower to bear as they took both games in run-rule shortened fashion over host Kalamazoo College.
The Thunder started their scoring right away coming away with four runs in the first inning of the first game. They would add three in the second, one in the third and four in the fourth while allowing just three to finish with the 12-3 victory in just five innings.
Both senior Lainey McCue (Westlake, Ohio / Westlake) and junior Makenna Hartline (Niles, Mich. / Brandywine) came up with home runs in the contest and each finished with two RBIs, but neither led the team in offense. That honor fell to junior Claire Ryan (Union Grove, Wis. / Union Grove) who finished the game 2-for-3 at the dish with a team-high four RBIs.
In the circle, junior Hannah Kampmann (St. Paul, Minn. / Cretin Derham Hall) pitched the contest for the Thunder. She picked up her ninth win of the season while adding four strikeouts to her total.
The offense needed a few innings to pick up steam in the second game of the day. The Thunder scored the first two runs of the contest in the bottom of the third inning before blowing the doors off with five runs in the fifth and four in the sixth to end the game early again by the score of 11-3.
Junior Michaela Hartline (Niles, Mich. / Brandywine) was the star for the team offensively recording five RBIs on the back of two hits. She tallied a single during the fifth scoring two runs and then ended the game in stunning walk-off fashion with a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth.
Freshman Taylor Murdock (Lapel, Ind. / Lapel) was the other member of Trine to record multiple RBIs in the game with two coming off a trio of singles.
Senior Kate Saupe (Farwell, Mich. / Farwell) started the game for the Thunder in the circle with freshman Holly Loveless (Frankfort, Ind. / Clinton Prairie) finishing off the contest in relief.
Trine improves to 21-3 overall and 7-1 in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play following the pair of wins. They will travel face Alma College on Saturday, April 13 to continue their season. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.