by Sports Information Student Assistant Caitlin Reynolds

CLEVELAND - The Trine University softball team is clicking on all cylinders so far this season, as they picked up another two-game sweep, this time against Case Western Reserve University. The 17th ranked Thunder picked up the first win with a score of 4-2, and finished it out with a 6-1 victory to improve their record to 17-3 on the season.

The first run of the game came in the top of the fourth as Trine put one across. Junior Sarah Belote (Bronson, Mich./Bronson) started the inning off with a walk, and would be moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt from fellow junior Lauren Harris (Uniontown, Ohio/Hoover). Belote would then advance to third on a groundout before an error by the right fielder would allow Belote to score.

Case would answer back in the bottom half of the inning with a run of their own.

Trine struck again in the top of the fifth, pushing two runs across on a home run to left field by junior Andi Gasco (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) after freshman Leah Hall (Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central) had reached base on a Spartans error.

Trine's final run came in the top of the seventh as Hall singled up the middle, and then stole second. Hall would come around to score on a single by fellow freshman Tori Cuebas (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield).

Case would pick up one run in the bottom of the seventh with a two-out solo homerun, but that is as close as they would get as the Thunder defense recorded the final out of the game.

On the mound, Gasco would go the distance earning the win, moving her to 9-2 on the year. Gasco allowed just five hits on two earned runs while picking up three strikeouts and walking one.

Gasco would also lead the offense picking up two RBIs coming on the home run. Cuebas would add a run batted in of her own as four different Thunder players collected hits.

In the second contest of the day the Thunder did not waste any time as they put a run on the board in the first inning. Senior Kelly Tresick (Clinton Township, Mich./L'Anse Creuse) would get things started with a leadoff double to right field. Freshman Carly Searles (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) would follow that up with a double to right field of her own to score Tresick.

Trine would get their second run of the game in the top of the fourth as Belote would get start things off with a two-out single to center field. After a passed ball advanced Belote to second, a double by sophomore Haleigh Daniels (Hamilton, Ohio/Hamilton) to center would allow Belote to score.

The Spartans would answer back in the bottom of the fourth with what would be their only run in the game on a solo home run.

Trine put the game away in the sixth as they did real damage, putting three runs across. Belote started things off once again with a leadoff single to right field. Harris would then walk, and Daniels would come up clutch and hit a three-run home run, the first of her career, to put Trine up 5-1.

Trine would tack on one more run for good measure in the seventh as Gasco single to center with one-out, and would advance to second on wild pitch. Gasco would move over to third on a dropped third strike before a single by Harris scored her.

Freshman Bree Fuller (Hubbardston, Mich./Fulton) would pick up her second win of the season, going 1 1/3 innings in relief, giving up just one hit and picking up two strikeouts. Junior Ashton Morgan (Berne, Ind./South Adams) would get the no decision after starting and throwing 3 2/3 innings, allowing one earned run on three hits and earning one strikeout. Gasco would come on to pitch the final two innings to record her second save on the year allowing two hits and a walk.

Daniels led the way offensively with a season-high four RBIs while collecting two hits, including the home run. Harris was a perfect 2-2 at the plate adding an RBI to the mix while Belote also added two hits and two runs of her own. In all, eight Trine starters collected hits in the game.

Trine will next play on April 4th as they host Anderson (IN), with doubleheader action starting at 3:30 p.m.