GRANDS RAPIDS, Mich.  - It was another offensive romp for the 16th ranked Trine University softball team as they swept Calvin College 10-0 in five innings and 9-2. The Thunder improve to 29-5 on the season and clinch a spot in the four-team MIAA Conference Tournament. Trine continues their hold on the top spot in the conference win an 11-1 record with just two conference series remaining on the season.

It took the Thunder bats an inning to get warmed up after the long bus ride to Grand Rapids, but once they got into the second inning, game one belonged to Trine. Junior Andi Gasco (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) and freshman Tori Cuebas (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield) led off the inning with back-to-back singles. The single by Gasco marked the 11th straight at bat where she had reached base, and 10th straight official at bat where she reached base via hit.

Then with one out, junior Lauren Harris (Uniontown, Ohio/Hoover) would single through the left side to score Gasco. Sophomore Haleigh Daniels (Hamilton, Ohio/Hamilton) would reach on an error by the Knights shortstop, allowing Cuebas to score.

Trine added three more in the third as three freshmen would come through for the Thunder. Carly Searles (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) led off the inning by beating out an infield single to the shortstop, then Leah Hall (Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central) would single to center. Then with one out, Cuebas would knock her fourth home run of the season to left field, clearing the bases. With the shot, Cuebas has now homered in each of the past three conference series. The homer also set a team record for home runs in a season, surpassing the mark of 27 that was set just last season.

In the fourth, Daniels led off the inning with a single, followed by a one-out walk to senior Kelly Tresick (Clinton Township, Mich./L'Anse Creuse). Searles would then deliver her conference-leading sixth triple of the season to score both runners.

The scoring wouldn't be done for the Thunder as they again scored in the fifth. Cuebas would lead off the inning with a single followed by walks to junior Sarah Belote (Bronson, Mich./Bronson) and Harris. Daniels would single to center, scoring Cuebas and Belote, then pinch runner, sophomore Jillian Craig (Indianapolis, Ind./Bishop Chatard), scored on the play as the Calvin centerfielder made an error.

Calvin would get the leadoff batter on in the bottom of the inning, but Gasco was able to get the next batter to ground into a 1-6-3 double play.

Cuebas had an outstanding game at the plate going 3-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Daniels also collected three RBI while going 2-3 with a run. Searles also collected two hits while driving in two.

In the circle, Gasco collected her 17th win of the year pitching the shutout while scattering five hits and striking out seven.

The first inning was unfavorable to the Thunder once again in game two, but the bats again came alive in inning number two.

After the first batter of the inning was retired, the next nine batters would reach base, including seven straight hits. The big blow of the inning came on a bases loaded double down the left field line by Searles. In the inning, every Trine player in the starting lineup reached base either by a hit or a walk.

In the fourth, Calvin would score their first run of the day after a leadoff walk that was followed by a Thunder error.

In the bottom half of the inning, Hall would follow in the footsteps of her fellow freshmen as she launched her third home run in as many series, over the left field wall.

Calvin added another run in the sixth as a leadoff walk was followed by a double. The damage could have been much worse for the Thunder, but freshman Bree Fuller (Hubbardston, Mich./Fulton) came on to retire three straight batters, two by way of strikeouts.

Gasco would put an exclamation mark on the day as she capped it off by clubbing her conference-leading ninth home run of the season to left field.

Five different players collected two hits for the Thunder in the nightcap. Daniels was the only Thunder player to be perfect in the game going 2-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Hall and Gasco had solid all-around games, each going 2-3 with two runs and two RBI. Belote and Tresick each collected two hits, while Searles also knocked in two runs.

Searles also had a quality start in the circle for the Thunder, going 5 innings, while allowing two runs (one earned) on just four hits and recording three strikeouts. Fuller pitched the final two innings, allowing just one hit while striking out three.

Trine will go right back to action as they will host Ohio Northern tomorrow, April 22, for their final home series on the season beginning at 1:00 p.m. Following the game, the Thunder will honor two of their players, playing in their final regular season home game.