by Sports Information Student Assistant Caitlin Reynolds

ANGOLA, Ind. - It was an offensive explosion and a pitching exhibition for the 17th ranked Trine University softball team as they completed the sweep of Defiance College, no-hitting the Yellow Jackets in the first game 10-0, and finishing it out in a 16-2 second game. This brings the Thunder to 15-3 on the year.

The Thunder, who earlier in the day moved up three spots in the NFCA poll, struck first in the bottom of the second inning as junior Sarah Belote (Bronson, Mich./Bronson) got things started with a two out single up the middle. Belote would be brought around to score from an RBI double by fellow junior Lauren Harris (Uniontown, Ohio/Hoover). Sophomore Haleigh Daniels (Hamilton, Ohio/Hamilton) would then bring Harris in with an RBI single up the middle.

The bottom of the fourth is where the real damage was done, as the Thunder racked up eight runs on eight hits. Junior Andi Gasco (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) started the inning off with a home run to right center. The Thunder would then string together three hits including a double from Daniels before freshman Carly Searles (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) would match sister Andi with a homerun of her own, the first of her collegiate career. Trine would round out the inning with three more hits including doubles by Gasco and freshman Tori Cuebas (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield).

The Thunder finished the game out by sitting down the Yellow Jackets in order in the top of the fifth, putting the mercy rule into effect.

A week after becoming Trine's all-time wins leader, Gasco shut down Defiance, throwing her first career no-hitter. It was just the fourth no-hitter in school history and the first since Rachel Wisman on April 6, 2010 against Kalamazoo. Gasco earned her eighth win of the season, going five innings, giving up just three walks and striking out seven Yellow Jackets batters.

It was offense by committee in game one, as the Thunder racked up 11 hits and 10 RBIs. Sisters Gasco and Searles led the way with two RBIs and a home run a piece. Junior Lindsey Wise (Oregon, Ohio/Clay) also chipped in with two RBIs, and Daniels went 2-2 with a run batted in of her own.

The Thunder Bats continued to stay hot in game two as they put up four runs in the bottom of the second started off with a single up the middle from Daniels. After a bunt single from sophomore Jamie Lydick (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) put runners on first and second, Daniels would score on an RBI double by Wise. Searles would hit her second homerun of the day, as she cleared the bases on an inside the parker to the right centerfield gap.

The bottom of the third would prove to be another hitting romp for Trine as they would put up 11 runs on 10 hits. The trio of Daniels, Lydick and Wise got things started again with back-to-back singles, followed by an RBI double. Searles would pick up her fourth and fifth RBIs of the game after a single through the left side. Gasco would follow her sister and also pick up her second homerun of the day, this time to centerfield. Daniels would knock another hit as Lydick would follow, add her second hit of the inning and picking up two RBIs in the process. Searles would pick up her final two RBIs for the day with a single up the middle.

Defiance would put two runs up on the board in the top of the fourth on just one hit ending the Thunder's shot at consecutive no-hitter.

Trine would add one more run for good measure in the bottom of the fourth on singles by sophomore Paxton Fleming (Boulder City, Nev./Boulder City) and Daniels.

Junior Ashton Morgan (Berne, Ind./South Adams) would get the win on the mound for the Thunder, going four innings, giving up an earned run on just one hit, while striking out and walking two to improve to 3-0 on the year.  Freshman Bree Fuller (Hubbardston, Mich./Fulton) would come on for an inning of relief, not allowing a base runner to reach, while picking up two strikeouts.

It was again a team effort on offensive side as the Thunder boasted a season-high 18 hits as a team. Searles (3-4) and Gasco (2-3) again led the bats adding their second homeruns of the day. Searles had a team season-high seven RBIs, while Gasco added three of her own. Daniels went perfect on the day, going 4-4 in game two, to hit a combined 6-6 on the day. Lydick (3-3) and Wise (2-3) both added two RBIs to the mix, as Wise added two doubles.

The Thunder will next travel to Case Western on March 31 for a doubleheader starting at 2:00 p.m.