Elizabethtown, Ky. – Top-ranked Trine University softball picked up a pair of wins on their first day of competition at the 2024 Pioneer Classic. They opened the day with a run-rule victory over Wartburg College before defeating the ninth-ranked Transylvania University in a close game.
The Thunder posted a crooked number to start the day against the Knights, most scoring off of great discipline in the batters box. The team scored six runs in the inning off two hits, an error and six free bases. Six different members of the team recorded RBIs in the inning.
Wartburg cut into the deficit in the top of the second plating a pair to make the score 6-2. After a leadoff walk from Debbie Hill and then a steal from pinch runner Emily Wheaton, Tyra Marcum brought home the first run of the bottom of the second. Ainsley Phillips brought in another run later to build the lead to 8-2.
Neither team scored in the third and then they matched either other with one run in the fourth and two in the fifth with the scoreboard showing 11-5 at the start of the sixth. After the Thunder pitching held the Knights scoreless in the sixth, Karley Trine led off the bottom half with a triple before scampering home on a hit by Hill. April Sellers finished the game with a double to right center that brought in the last run making the score 13-5 after six.
Lauren Clausen started the game for the team in circle and eventually earned the win, despite allowing three runs, two of which were earned. Hill finished the last two innings, allowing two runs of her own while striking out a pair.
The bats quieted for the start of the second game of the day, against the nationally-ranked host Pioneers, but only for the start. All eight runs in the contest would ultimately come from the long ball, with the two teams combining for six homers.
Transy went over the wall first, getting a solo homer in the bottom of the first to take an early lead. The teams traded home runs in the fourth to build the score to 2-1, still in favor of the home team. Hill had the hit that got the Thunder on the board.
Hill reached on a hit by pitch in the top of the sixth, giving way to Wheaton at first. The pinch runner advanced to second on a wild pitch, before trotting home when Marcum hit her ball over the center field fence. The single swing of the bat gave the team their first lead of the day at 3-2. The Pioneers did respond in the bottom half with a solo-shot to tie the game at three.
Karley Trine retook the lead in the top of the seventh with a two-run homer to left field that made the score 5-3.
In the circle, Alexis Michon had a strange but effective game. She allowed the three home runs and three runs, but allowed just one other hit and one walk while striking out nine batters. She closed out the game in the seventh with three of those strikeouts to earn the win.
The Thunder improve to 14-1 overall following pair of wins. They will continue their weekend at the Pioneer Classic tomorrow, Sunday, March 17 with two more contests. They open the day against DePauw University at 10 a.m. before taking on Hanover College at 2:30 p.m.