ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University softball split the day with visiting Muskingum University, dropping the first game 8-7 before winning a darkness shortened contest 5-1 in six innings.
The Muskies showed that they were here to compete from the beginning of the first game. They tallied three runs in the top of the first inning of the day, the first two on a homer and the second on an RBI-double.
The Thunder responded in the bottom of the first. After the team loaded the bases, senior Amanda Prather was struck by a pitch bringing home the first run for the team. In the next at-bat, sophomore Emma Beyer came up with a sharp hit single that also drew an error from the right fielder. Three runs scored on the play, with two going down as RBIs for Beyer. The action-packed first inning finished with the home team up 4-3.
Trine added to their lead in the second inning. Freshman Karley Trine brought home the fifth run of the game with a double to left filed.
After the complicated first, junior Alexis Michon settled into the circle. She held the opposition scoreless in the second, third and fourth innings. She struck out four during those four innings. She was chased from the circle in the top of the fifth when the leadoff hitter tallied the Muskies' second home run of the day.
Freshman Debbie Hill entered the game in relief after the run scored. She struggled to find the strike zone to start and Muskingum took back the lead after loading the bases. They added two more in the top of the sixth making the score 8-5 with nine outs remaining.
Karley Trine brought a spark back to the offense in the bottom of the sixth, homering to bring the team back within two. Hill and junior Scarlett Elliott drew back-to-back walks to put runners on first and second. Junior Emily Wheaton, who had entered as a pinch runner, then stole third and advanced home on a bad throw by the catcher to put the team back within one at 8-7.
It would end up being the last run of the game however and the Muskies handed the nationally-ranked Thunder just their third loss of the season. Hill would take the loss after allowing four runs on seven hits and a walk. She did strikeout four during her three innings of work.
After the long first game, the second was set against the backdrop of the setting sun from the start. Senior Anna Koeppl got the start for Trine and found more success in the circle. She would pitch the first six and a third innings of the game, allowing one run, not earned, on eight hits and a walk while striking out four.
The first run of the game would go to the Thunder in the bottom of the second. With runners on first and second, senior Ellie Trine came up with a single up the middle, bringing Prather home from second for the 1-0 lead.
The top of the third saw the team the Muskies get their lone run of the game tying the contest at one.
As the shadows grew longer on the field, both teams fell into offensive slumps. Neither team would score until the bottom of the sixth.
In the twilight, the Thunder found their rhythm. Karley Trine led off with a walk, before freshman Reese Ruvalcaba singled to the shortstop as a pinch hitter. Prather than gave the team the lead with a single up the middle. Beyer then brought in two more by drawing an error on a sacrifice bunt attempt, also advancing to second on the play. Sophomore Ainsley Phillips brought in one more run on a sacrifice fly making the score 5-1 heading into the top of the seventh.
Koeppl got her last out by striking out the first batter of the seventh, but would allow the next two to reach base. Junior Lauren Clausen entered the game and drew a groundout for the second out. It ended up being the final out of the game with the umpires and coaches agreeing to halt the game for darkness at that point. The game is considered complete after finishing the sixth and will go as a win for the home side at 5-1.
Trine finishes the day 17-3 following the split. They will begin Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play on Saturday, April 6 when they host Adrian College for a doubleheader. The first game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.