ALMA, Mich. – The Trine University softball team took two Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) games from Alma College. The first win came by the score of 5-0 before taking the second game in run-rule fashion 12-4.
After a scoreless first inning, the Thunder loaded the bases with three singles in the top of the second. Junior Taylor Murdock (Lapel, Ind. / Lapel) then drew out a walk to give the team its first run of the day. Sophomore Ellie Trine (Kokomo, Ind. / Kokomo) then cleared the bases with a two-out double to give the team a 4-0 lead.
Senior Mercede Daugherty (Watervilet, Mich. / Watervilet) added one more run in the top of the fourth inning with an RBI single.
The 5-0 lead would be more than enough as sophomore Anna Koeppl (Perrysburg, Ohio / Perrysburg) locked down the Scots in the circle. She would allow just eight hits while walking none and striking out six. The shutout is Koeppl's 11th win of the season.
Alma struck first in the second contest of the day taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Junior Ashley Swartout (Westfield, Ind. / Westfield) erased the lead in the bottom of half of the same inning with her ninth homer of the season brought in three runs to give the team a 3-1 lead.
The team would score three more in the third inning. The first run of the inning came off of a single from senior Victoria Porter (Canton, Mich. / Canton) while the other two came off of a costly error in leftfield off the bat of freshman Scarlett Elliott (Utica, Ohio / Utica).
After the Scots cut the lead to three with a home run of their own in the fourth inning, Trine's offense really got going. The team would record six runs in the fourth to take a 12-3 lead.
Freshman Madey Flick (Wheatfield, Ind. / Kankakee Valley) brought the first run in on a pinch-hit single, Daugherty added two with a double, sophomore Amanda Prather (Indianapolis, Ind. / Roncalli) brought in one with a double, Porter grounded out for another and Elliott finished off with an RBI double.
In the circle freshman Lauren Clausen (Elk Grove, Ill. / Elk Grove) started the contest and pitched just under four innings allowing three runs while recording a strikeout, all told enough to earn her fifth win of the season. Classmate Adrienne Rosey (Schoolcraft, Mich. / Schoolcraft) finished off the contest allowing one run while striking out a pair.
The Thunder improve to 28-6 overall and 14-0 in MIAA play. They appear poised to capture the MIAA regular-season title, but will finish off the season with a decisive doubleheader against current second-place Hope College. The pair of games are set to start at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 1 and will be played in Holland, Mich.