ANGOLA, Ind. – Two big swings of the bat would propel the Trine University softball team to victory and a spot in the 2022 NCAA Division III Softball Championship Super Regional round as they defeat North Central (Ill.) College, 6-0, in the championship game of the Angola, Ind. Regional.
The first four and a half innings of the game would see neither offense find any ground. Junior Anna Koeppl (Perrysburg, Ohio / Perrysburg) would get the start in the circle for the Thunder and pitched five strong innings. She would allow just four hits while striking out five over that time.
In the bottom of half of the frames however the Thunder would struggle during the first four innings, stymied by the opposition's starter who would hold them hitless during the stretch.
That all changed in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore Scarlett Elliott (Utica, Ohio / Utica) led off the inning and shifted the momentum with a huge swing of the bat. She bounced a ball off the top of the fence in left field, ending the play on second base. After a failed sacrifice bunt in the next at-bat, freshman Ainsley Phillips (Yorktown, Ind. / Yorktown) would force an error by the shortstop and put runners on second and third with only one out.
A walk for senior Mercede Daugherty (Watervliet, Mich. / Watervliet) would load the bases for the top of the lineup, bringing junior Ellie Trine (Kokomo, Ind. / Kokomo) to the plate. She would hit a ball to deep left field that would allow Elliott to tag up and score.
Another walk would load the bases again bringing senior Taylor Murdock (Lapel, Ind. / Lapel) to the plate. She would smoke a ball down the left field line emptying the bases with three RBIs and giving the team a 4-0 lead heading into the sixth.
Sophomore Laurent Clausen (Elk Grove, Ill. / Elk Grove) would relieve Koeppl in the circle to finish out the game. She would pitch two innings allowing no hits while striking out three of her six faced batters. The two would combine for the shutout.
Elliott would reach on another double in the sixth inning before freshman Emma Beyer (Rochester, Mich. / Stoney Creek) added two insurance runs with a homer over the left center fence. The score would go final at 6-0.
Five different members of the team would be selected to the regional's all-tournament team following the completion of competition. Prather, Phillips, Ellie Trine and Swartout would represent the team as position players while sophomore pitcher Adrienne Rosey (Schoolcraft, Mich. / Schoolcraft) would take home the Most Outstanding Player award for the team.
The Thunder will await the results from the Cleveland, Ohio Regional where Case Western Reserve University or Concordia University Wisconsin will faceoff in a decisive game seven today. Location and schedule information for next week are still to be determined, but the first game will take place on Friday, May 20 and the second coming on Saturday, May 21 with an if-necessary third game to follow.