ANGOLA, Ind. – Late inning heroics secured the Trine University softball team a pair of wins in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Tournament. The team secured both wins by just one run in low scoring contests.
Adrian threatened to start the opening game of the day, with two batters reaching base, the first on a hit and the second on an error. Freshman Debbie Hill seemed to settle into the inning after the rocky start, finishing putting down the next three batters, two coming on strikeouts. Freshman Karley Trine recorded a hit of her own in the bottom half advancing to second on a wild pitch. She ended up stranded there to send the game to the second.
The Bulldogs second batter reached in the next inning before moving to second on a walk. Trine responded with a spectacular defensive sequence to end the inning. The batter attempted the sacrifice bunt placing it down the right line. Hill rushed forward and scooped the ball up before tossing it underhand to the classmate Ashleigh Tranter who dove to make the catch and secure the out at first. Seeing a chance at a run the lead Adrian runner rounded third, to be thrown out by Tranter who had quickly hopped back to her feet. The improvised double play ended the inning.
The Bulldogs finally capitalized on their baserunners in the third inning, recording an RBI single with two outs to give them a 1-0 lead.
The top of the fourth saw Trine earn another scoring opportunity. Senior Anna Gill reached first and looked to be well on her way home when Karley Trine doubled off the left field wall. It was the Knights who came up with the defensive heroics to keep their lead. The outfielder snatched the ball off the bounce turned and executed a perfect relay through shortstop to catch Gill at home.
In the bottom of the six Hill came to the plate with a teammate on first and gave the team a lead with a moon shot to left center field. The eleventh home run of her season gave the Thunder a 2-1 lead heading into the final inning.
Junior Alexis Michon entered the game for the save attempt in the top of the seventh. It wasn't the prettiest outing for the pitcher, but she ultimately ended the game giving the Thunder a 2-1 victory. Hill finished the game with six innings of work allowing one run on five hits and a walk while striking out six. Michon allowed one hit while recording a strikeout in her save.
The second game of the day was destined for a similar script, this time with second-seeded Calvin University lining up on the other side of the diamond. With two outs the Knights came up with a triple for their first hit of the day, senior Anna Koeppl stopped the inning there with her first strikeout of the day.
Calvin put runners on second and third in the third inning, bringing their number three hitter to the plate. The Knight came up with a deeply hit ball to left field that looked like it would bring home at least two runs. Gill had other plans making a diving catch onto the warning track to steal the extra base hit and end the inning.
Koeppl allowed a walk in the top of the sixth before exiting the game to make way for Michon. Koeppl finished her five innings having allowed three hits and a walk while striking out three. The Calvin runner took off for second after Michon's first pitch of the game, an ill-advised decision with sophomore Ainsley Phillips throwing her out.
For the next three innings neither team reached second base. Then in the bottom of the ninth inning Hill drew a walk with one out. Junior Emersyn Haney entered as a pinch runner and quickly stole second, moving to third on the next out. She ended up stranded there with the Calvin pitcher securing a strikeout.
After a quick top-half of the tenth, Tranter came to the plate as the leadoff for the Thunder. She picked that moment to record her first career home run, walking off the game for the 1-0 victory.
Michon earned the win in circle with five more innings of work. She finished her second appearance of the day allowing just two hits while striking out three more.
Trine secures a spot in the MIAA Tournament Championship game which is scheduled to be played at noon tomorrow, Friday, May 12. Their opponent will be winner of tomorrow's first game which will feature Calvin and Adrian. That game is scheduled to start at 10 a.m.
