ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. – Another day, another sweep for the Trine University softball team. They finished off competition at the 2024 Pioneer Classic with wins over DePauw University and Hanover College, both in run-rule fashion.
The Thunder opened the day against the Tigers and needed just five innings to finish with a 9-1 victory.
The team opened the scoring in the bottom of the first when Debbie Hill hit a ball over the centerfield fence that scored a pair of runs.
The 2-0 lead held until the bottom of the third when Trine added to it. With runners on the corners, Allie Moss stole second and drew an error from the catcher, allowing Karley Trine to score from third. Moss came home a few batters later when Tyra Marcum singled down the rightfield line. The final run of the inning came when Michaela Doiron grounded into a double play but brought home Hill from third.
In addition to her offense, Hill started the game in the circle and took a shutout into the fourth inning. She ultimately allowed just one run while striking out five and earning the win.
Trine loaded the bases to start the bottom of the fifth, forcing a pitching change by DePauw. After two outs, the Thunder pinch hit with Talisa Chafey and she came up with a bases clearing double putting the Tigers just one out from the run-rule ending. Emma Lee came up with a double of her own to end the game with a 9-1 score.
Offensive explosion continued in the second game of the day. The Thunder finished the game in five innings with a 14-5 victory. The team scored multiple runs in the first three innings, including seven in the third giving them a 10-2 lead. Hanover notched three in the fourth to seemingly stave off a run-rule loss, but Trine scored two in the fifth to end the game early.
Hill led the way with three RBIs in the contest, two of which came on another homerun. Both Marcum and Emma Beyer had two-RBI games, with Beyer recording both of hers in the fifth inning to secure the early win.
In the circle Lauren Clausen had the start, but only made it two innings allowing two runs on four hits and a walk. She did strike out three. Alex Rodriguez finished off the final three innings, allowing three runs on three hits and three walks while striking out two. Rodriguez would record the win.
Trine improves to 16-1 overall following the pair of wins. They will open the home portion of their schedule when they next take the field on Friday, March 22. They are set to host Anderson (Ind.) University for a pair of games beginning at 3:30 p.m.
