ANGOLA, Ind. -- The Trine University softball team started off with a decisive victory over Kalamazoo College before struggling in their game against Calvin University to end the day with a split.
The Hornets actually struck first in the opening contest of the day. In the first inning, Kalamazoo had their first runner reach on an error before a double put a pair of runners in scoring position. A sacrifice bunt then brought in the runner on third.
Following the lone allowed run, freshman Adrienne Rosey (Schoolcraft, Mich. / Schoolcraft) settled down in the circle and retired the final 14 Hornet batters of the contest, allowing just the one hit and no walks while tallying four strikeouts.
The Thunder started their scoring in the bottom of the second inning when senior Bailey Vande Giessen (Kalamazoo, Mich. / Portage Central) homered to left-center for a pair of runs. The 2-1 lead would last through the third inning.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Trine offense exploded, as they would go on to plate eight runs to take a dominating 10-1 lead.
Both junior Ashley Swartout (Westfield, Ind. / Westfield) and sophomore Ellie Trine (Kokomo, Ind. / Kokomo) went long in the inning. Swartout led off with a solo shot to left field while Trine waited until later and brought in three runs with a homer of her own.
Four other Thunder recorded RBI hits during the inning, including Vande Giessen, freshman Madey Flick (Wheatfield, Ind. / Kankakee Valley), sophomore Amanda Prather (Indianapolis, Ind. / Roncalli) and senior Mercede Daugherty (Watervilet, Mich. / Watervilet).
Rosey recorded the final three outs in the top of the fifth and the game ended early with the 10-1 victory.
In the team's second contest of the day Trine would strike first in the top of the second inning when junior Lexi Clark (Niles, Mich. / Edwardsburg) brought in a run with a single to give the team a 1-0 lead.
The bottom of the third inning saw Calvin take a lead of their own with a two-RBI single. They would add to that lead in the fourth with a homer and another RBI single.
Vande Giessen brought the team back within two in the top of the fifth with a double that brought in a pair of runs. They would be the final runs of the game for the Thunder and the team would ultimately fall 7-3 in the contest.
The Thunder fall to 20-6 following the day of work. They will return to action tomorrow, Saturday, April 17 when they travel to Olivet, Mich. for a pair of games. The first, against host Olivet College, is scheduled to start at noon.