ANGOLA, Ind. -- No. 4 Trine extended its season-opening winning streak to 18 games with a sweep of Anderson (Ind.) in the home opener Friday afternoon at SportONE/Parkview Softball Field.
The Thunder used a 12-hit performance to take game one, 11-3, by run rule in five innings. Trine followed that up with a 2-1 victory in a game two pitcher's duel. Carly Bachna (Elyria, Ohio / Elyria) did not make an out on the afternoon, recording six hits, including a home run, and driving in six runs. Danielle Ray (Hamilton, Ohio / Badin) and Hannah Kampmann (St. Paul, Minn. / Cretin Derham Hall) each notched complete game victories in the circle. Trine improved to 18-0. Anderson fell to 5-7.
Game One: Trine 11, Anderson 3 (5)
After an early Ravens run, the Thunder hit back with a big inning and outscored Anderson the rest of the way to earn the game one victory.
Blake Thomas got the Ravens on the board first in the top of the opening inning with a two-out RBI to score Megan Wade.
Trine answered, jumping on Anderson before they could even record an out. Nicole Ferraro (North Royalton, Ohio / Holy Name) plated the first run with a RBI-single. The Thunder proceeded to load the bases with none out for Bachna, who launched a no-doubter to left for the grand slam and a 5-0 lead before an out was recorded. Michaela Hartline (Niles, Mich. / Brandywine) added her first collegiate homer later in the inning, another long drive to left, to make the score 6-1.
The Thunder added on to its lead with three in the bottom of the third. Lainey McCue (Westlake, Ohio / Westlake) started the scoring with a line-drive RBI-double to the left-center gap. Hartline tacked on an RBI single off the pitcher, before Emily White (Fortville, Ind. / Mount Vernon) capped the inning with a run-scoring groundout.
Anderson answered with a pair of unearned runs to take advantage of some Trine defensive miscues. Mariah Wood capped the inning with a RBI-double to cut the score to 9-3.
Single runs in the fourth and fifth innings provided the final margin of victory for the Thunder. Bachna came through with her second run-scoring hit of the game in the fourth to make the score 10-3. Kaylee Fox (Vermilion, Ohio / Edison) provided the final RBI with a single in the bottom of the fifth.
Ray worked five innings to earn the victory. She allowed three runs (one earned) on eight hits, did not walk a batter and struck out three to improve to 7-0.
Game Two: Trine 2, Anderson 1
All of the scoring for each team came in the first inning as the two starting pitchers matched zeroes the rest of the evening.
The Ravens loaded the bases with one out in the first. After Fox cut down a runner at the plate on a fielder's choice, DJ Martz worked a bases-loaded walk to force in a run.
The Thunder loaded the bases with one out in the bottom half of the inning. Bachna came through once again with another big hit, a run-scoring single to left center to tie the score. Ferraro then came in to score on a wild pitch for the final 2-1 margin.
Kampmann was in control the rest of the way in the circle. The freshman retired nine in a row at one point. She allowed an unearned run on three hits, walked two and struck out a career-high five. Kampmann improved to 9-0 on the year.
Megan Wade nearly kept pace for the Ravens. She allowed two earned runs on 11 hits, walked one and struck out six. Wade's pitching was able to strand 10 Trine runners.
The Thunder return to action Wednesday, Mar. 29 against Ohio Northern. First pitch at SportONE/Parkview Softball Field is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
