ANGOLA, Ind. - It was a day of pitching domination in Trine University's softball doubleheader against conference rival Adrian College. The 17th ranked Thunder took game one 4-1 before the Bulldogs squeaked out a 2-1 win in game two. With the split, Trine moves to 19-5 on the season and 1-1 in the MIAA.

The first inning saw Trine starter Andi Gasco (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) pitch out of a jam as Adrian got two runners on before Gasco shut down the Bulldogs.

Neither team was able to get much offense going in the early innings as two of the best pitchers in the conference battled it out.

Trine would score first, in the fourth inning. With two outs, junior Sarah Belote (Bronson, Mich./Bronson) reached base on an error by the Adrian shortstop. From there, fellow junior Lauren Harris (Uniontown, Ohio/Hoover) stepped up and delivered on her third home run of the season, a rocket over the center field wall, to give the Thunder the lead.

The Bulldogs would pull within one in the sixth as leadoff home run to left got them on the board. Adrian would continue to threaten in the inning as they loaded the bases with one out. Gasco was able to get pinch hitter Leah Ostrowski to go down swinging and then Tara Camper to ground out ending the inning.

The Thunder would tack on two more in the bottom of the inning for insurance. Gasco would lead off the inning with a single through the infield. After the next to Trine batter were retired, Harris would reach on an Adrian throwing error that allowed Gasco to score all the way from first. Harris came all the way around to third after a hard collision at the plate knocked the ball to the fence. Sophomore Haleigh Daniels (Hamilton, Ohio/Hamilton) then stepped in and delivered a single to score Harris from third to go up by the final score.

Adrian would get a leadoff double to start the seventh, but Gasco would record the final three outs to get the victory.

Gasco had a solid game in the circle for the Thunder pitching the complete game, scattering five hits while allowing just the one run. Gasco improved her record to 11-2 on the season, finishing the game with seven strikeouts while walking two.

At the dish for the Thunder, Harris led the way going 2-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored as Daniels had the only other RBI for Trine. In the game, freshman Carly Searles (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) had her 13-game hitting streak snapped, dating all the way back to March 10 against Rowan.

The second game didn't start nearly as well for the Thunder as Adrian, serving as the home team, put up two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Back-to-back lead off singles helped the Bulldogs out to an early lead. The damage could have been much worse but Daniels made a diving, over the shoulder catch in shallow left field to save a hit and a potential run from scoring.

The Thunder were held hitless until the fourth when Daniels had a two-out single up the middle. Trine threatened in the inning with runners on first and second but were unable to plate a run.

Trine was able to pitch out of another jam in the bottom of the inning as Adrian had runners on second and third before freshman Bree Fuller (Hubbardston, Mich./Fulton) came on to record the final out of the inning.

Trine had another scoring opportunity in the fifth. Searles would walk with two outs and then freshman Leah Hall (Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central) delivered a single to left. Chaos would ensue on the play as the throw would go to third, trying to retire Searles, but was not in time. Adrian proceeded to try and get Hall advancing to second, but again the throw was too late. On the throw to second, Searles attempted to go home on the play but was thrown out on a play at the plate.

After failing to score in the sixth, the Thunder were able to begin to rally in the seventh. Sophomore Jamie Lydick (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) would lead off the inning with a single to left center. Lydick would move to third on ground outs by junior Lindsey Wise (Oregon, Ohio/Clay), and pinch hitter sophomore Paxton Fleming (Boulder City, Nev./Boulder City). Searles would beat out an infield single to the third baseman, scoring Lydick. That would be it for the Thunder as the final out was recorded and the Thunder were unable to plate the tying run.

Searles earned the loss, falling to 3-2 on the season, despite allowing just one earned run over 3 and 2/3 innings. The freshman allowed seven hits while striking out five and walking just one. Fuller pitched the final 2 and 1/3 innings allowing just one batter to reach base while collecting two strikeouts.

Five different played collected hits for the Thunder in the second game as Searles had the lone RBI in the game. In the game, Gasco extended her streak of reaching base to 15 games.

Trine will face another tough challenge as they will go on the road to play Alma College for a doubleheader beginning at 3:30 p.m. on April 11.