GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Trine University softball team started the day with a shutout but would ultimately split the day with their hosts from Calvin University after dropping the second half of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) doubleheader.
The first game would be a low scoring affair for both teams, but the Thunder pitching was more to the task than the Knights. Sophomore Adrienne Rosey (Schoolcraft, Mich. / Schoolcraft) would pitch the game and turned in another great performance, allowing no runs on four hits and one walk. She would also strikeout five in the seven innings of work.
Offensively, Trine played perfect small-ball tactics in the top of the second to plate their first run of the day. Sophomore Scarlett Elliott (Utica, Ohio / Utica) would draw a leadoff walk and then move to second on a sacrifice bunt. Sophomore Giselle Riley (Temecula, Calif. / Temecula) would then bring her home with a single to leftfield.
The team would add insurance runs in the sixth. Riley would record another RBI with a groundout with runners on the corners to start the scoring and then senior Lexi Clark (Niles, Mich. / Edwardsburg) would bring in another with a pinch-hit double to centerfield.
The team would hold on to the 3-0 lead and put it to final in the bottom of the seventh.
The second game would see both teams threaten through the first two innings but neither would plate a run until the bottom of the third. Junior Anna Koeppl (Perrysburg, Ohio / Perrysburg) played a big role in those opening innings getting the start in the circle. She would pitch two and a third innings allowing just four hits.
The Thunder would break the stalemate in the bottom of the third. Senior Ashley Swartout (Westfield, Ind. / Westfield) would come to the plate with one out and runners on the corners and came up with a single to score a run. After Elliott followed up by reaching base on a hit-by-pitch, junior Amanda Prather (Indianapolis, Ind. / Roncalli) would bring home a pair of runs with a double to leftfield.
The 3-0 lead was short lived for the team, with the Knights scoring a run in the top of the fourth and then a pair in the top of the fifth to tie the game at three.
Swartout would reach base on balls to start the fifth and would be replaced by sophomore Emily Wheaton (Kalamazoo, Mich. / Hackett Catholic) who would promptly steal second and then fly home on the back of an error on Elliott's sacrifice bunt attempt. The run would make the score 4-3 giving the team the lead again.
Calvin would respond again in the top of the sixth tying the game at four, before taking their first lead of the day with three runs in the top of the seventh making the score 7-4. Trine was unable to rally and the score would go final.
The Thunder finish the day 15-10 overall and 5-1 in MIAA play following the split. They are scheduled to return to the field on Monday, April 18 when they host Kalamazoo College for another MIAA doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
