ALMA, Mich. - It was a huge afternoon for the 21st ranked Trine University softball team as they rolled over MIAA rival Alma College, winning a pair of games against the Scots 1-0 and 6-4. Junior pitcher Andi Gasco (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) went the distance in both games to lead the Thunder. With the wins, the Thunder improve to 21-5 on the season and 2-1 in conference play.

Freshman Tori Cuebas (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield) plated the game's first and only run in the fourth as she launched the first pitch she saw just inside the left field foul pole for her second home run of the season. That would be all the Thunder would need as Gasco would go the distance shutting down the Scots.

Alma threatened in the first and fourth innings as they loaded the bases each time. In the fourth, Gasco escaped trouble as she made a tremendous play on a suicide squeeze by Alma's Erin Pintek, scooping the ball with her glove and flipping it to catcher Sarah Belote (Bronson, Mich./Bronson) for the out at the plate.

Gasco pitched out of another jam in the fifth. After a one-out walk followed by a single, Gasco was able to induce Lea Lusk into a pop out to junior Lindsay Wise (Oregon, Ohio/Clay), but the Alma runner got too far off the base and Wise was able to double her off at second.

Gasco and the Trine defense was able to hold the Scots in the final two innings to hang on for the win.

Sophomore Haleigh Daniels (Hamilton, Ohio/Hamilton) led the Thunder at the plate in game one, racking up two of Trine's four hits in the game. Cuebas had the games only RBI on the solo shot, while Belote has the Thunder's other hit.

On the mound Gasco allowed just four hits while striking out six but did surrender a season-high seven walks.

Game two did not start to Trine's liking, as the Scots plated three runs in the first and another in the second as they took an early 4-0 lead. The Scots had six of their eight total hits come in the first two innings.

Trine would struggle offensively early, but came back big in the third inning. After a leadoff single by Wise, senior Kelly Tresick (Clinton Township, Mich./L'Anse Creuse) would reached when the Scots attempted to go to second on her sacrifice bunt, but Wise was safe on the play. Then with two outs, Gasco would step in a launch her team leading sixth home run of the season to right center to pull the Thunder within one.

In the fourth, a Scots error and a back-to-back fielder's choices put runners on second and third with two outs. The conference's leading hitting finally came through for the Thunder as freshman Carly Searles (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) dropped a single in over the shortstops' head that plated Wise and pinch-hitter, sophomore Paxton Fleming (Boulder City, Nev./Boulder City).

The Thunder would tack on an insurance run as Gasco led off the bottom of the fifth with a triple to left center just out of the reach of the Alma diving centerfielder. Belote came to the plated with one out and deliver for the Thunder, as she just squeaking the ball inside the third base bag to score Gasco.

Alma would threaten in the top of the sixth as an error and two walks loaded the bases for the Scots. Gasco would once again step up and pitch out of the jam as Daniels fielded the ground ball and tossed to Wise for the force out at second.

Gasco would retire the Scots in order in the top of the seventh to give Trine their first regular season sweep of Alma since joining the MIAA.

Gasco led the Thunder in the circle and at the plate in game two. On the mound, Gasco pitched her second complete game of the day, allowing three earned runs on eight hits while striking out seven and walking five.

At the dish, Gasco went 2-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Belote also had a solid game going 2-3 with an RBI. Searles picked up two RBI while Wise added two runs scored for the game.

For Alma, it marks the first time they have been swept in conference play nearly six years to the day, when they fell to Hope twice on April 13, 2006.

Trine will return to conference action on April 14 as they host Hope College for a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.