ALMA, Mich. – The Trine University softball team picked up another Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic (MIAA) sweep coming on the road against Alma College. The offense led the way for the Thunder scoring 16 runs in the two games.
The Scots were first to strike for the day when they scored in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. It would be short-lived with Trine responding in the top of the third. After the team loaded the bases with two singles and an error, freshman Emma Lee hit a long flyball to right field that brought home the runner from third.
The Thunder took a lead of their own with a big third inning. A leadoff walk started the inning with freshman Karley Trine following up with a quick two-run homer. A few batters later senior Amanda Prather added to the lead with an RBI double. After another walk, Lee would go long for herself bringing in three runs and giving the team a 7-1 lead.
The next two homers were in favor of Alma. They tallied a solo-shot in the fourth and one of the three-run variety in the fifth. The pair of hits cut the lead to two at 7-5 heading into the sixth.
The final run came in the top of the sixth when freshman Debbie Hill brought home another with a double extending the lead to three at 8-5. That score went final after one and a half more scoreless innings.
Hill picks up the win in the circle, her sixth of the season. She went four and two-thirds innings allowing the five runs while striking out five. Junior Alexis Michon entered in relief recording her second save of the season after finishing the game allowing just one walk while striking out four.
The Thunder had another six-run inning in the second game as well, coming in the bottom of the second inning. Sophomore Emma Beyer brought home the first of the runs with a single to right field. After the next two batters walked, Karley Trine cleared the bases with a single up the middle. Another walk and a wild pitch put runners on second and third and junior Scarlett Elliott brought them both home with a double of her own.
It was more than enough offense with senior Anna Koeppl once again dealing in the circle. She ended up pitching all five innings of the contest allowing just two hits and a walk while striking out four. The performance is her 11th win of the season.
Hill recorded a home run in the fourth and Lee finished off the game in the fifth with an RBI-single that made the score 8-0.
The Thunder improve to 26-4 overall and 9-1 in MIAA play following the sweep. The team will continue their season when they travel to face Hope College on Thursday, April 27. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.
