COLUMBUS, Ga. – The nationally top-ranked Trine University softball team split their final day of competition at the 2024 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Leadoff Classic in a pair of games against top-15 opponents.
They began the day facing off with 12th-ranked Belhaven University where they held on for the 4-2 victory.
The Thunder offense got to work quickly with both Ellie Trine and Karley Trine opening with singles. Debbie Hill proceeded to clear the bases in her at-bat with a double to right field. The team added a third run in the top of the third when Ellie Trine came up with her first homerun of the season.
In the other half of the frame, Lauren Clausen made the start in the circle and pitched five and a third strong innings. She allowed just five hits and a walk while striking out two during the performance. The Blazers finally got to the senior in the top of the sixth inning, scoring a pair of runs, only one earned, and cutting the lead to 3-2. Hill entered in relief and finished off the win, earning a save on two strikeouts.
Ainsley Phillips added an insurance run in the top of the seventh with a homerun of her own, giving the team their final lead of 4-2.
In the second game of the day, eighth-ranked Christopher Newport University handed the Trine their first loss of the season by the thinnest of margins with a final score of 4-3.
The Captains scored the first four runs of the contest over the first four innings, building a 4-0 lead for the top of the fifth. During those innings the Thunder were stymied by good pitching, but they started to figure out the Christopher Newport pitching in the fifth.
Scarlett Elliott got the inning started with a one-out single in the top of the fifth, scampering home on the next at-bat when Phillips doubled. Karley Trine added another run with an RBI single a few at-bats later.
In the circle, Hill was once again called in to relieve the starter. She finished her second appearance of the game allowing no hits or runs while striking out three. Alexis Michon started the contest and pitched three and two third innings while striking out seven.
Macy Rocha cut further into the lead in the top of the sixth, leading off the inning with a solo homerun that made the score 4-3. It ended up going final when the Captains held off any further offense by Trine.
The Thunder end the day with a 4-1 overall record. They will next head to Florida for the remainder of their spring break trip. They open the trip on Wednesday, March 6 when they are scheduled to face Emmanual (Mass.) College and the University of Mount Union.