ALMA, Mich. - The top seeded Trine University softball team handled the fifth seeded University of Chicago 6-1 in the NCAA Alma Regional. The Thunder (39-8) advance to play Ohio Northern in the winner's bracket.

Chicago threatened early in the game as they had two runners on in both the first and third innings. In the first it was Sarah Belote (Bronson, Mich./Bronson) ending the threat as she threw out the base runner attempting to steal third.

In the third the Maroons got two on with two outs but starter Andi Gasco (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) was able to record the final out.

Trine scored first though as they plated a run in the third as senior Kelly Tresick (Clinton Township, Mich./L'Anse Creuse) reached on an infield bunt with two outs. Freshman Carly Searles (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) would step in and deliver her 10th triple of the season to score the run. 

Trine broke things open in the fourth. Chicago brought in their ace Kim Cygan who came into the game third in the nation in ERA, but Gasco showed she could take care of business against the best and delivered her 12th home run of the season, tying her for first in school history with 22 for her career. Junior Lauren Harris (Uniontown, Ohio/Hoover) would then reach on a walk and freshman Tori Cuebas (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield) would deliver an RBI double. After a sacrifice bunt moved pinch runner junior Andee Browne (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) to third, freshman Leah Hall (Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central) delivered a sacrifice fly to right to score Browne.

Chicago got a run back in the fourth as they loaded the bases and scored the run on a single. It could have been worse, but on the single the trailing runner was thrown out at the plate by Searles.

In the fifth, Trine would get some insurance as Harris delivered a bases loaded single, scoring Searles and Belote who had reached on a walk and an error.

The Thunder threatened in the top of the seventh as they had bases loaded with no outs but were unable to push across a run.

On the mound Gasco had a solid outing improving on her school record 22nd win of the year after allowing just one earned run on three hits while striking out three.

Gasco led things at the dish as well, going 3-4 with a run and an RBI. Five other starters collected a hit on the day as Harris was the only Trine player to collect multiple RBI with two.

Trine will now face Ohio Northern who defeated Alma 2-1, tomorrow, May 12 at 2:00 p.m. where the winner will advance into the championship game.