COLUMBUS, Ga. - It was a comeback for the ages, as the 11th ranked Trine University softball team rallied from three runs down in the bottom of the 7th to defeat Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 5-4 to win the tournament championship at the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Leadoff Classic. The Thunder end spring break with an 11-1 record. The Thunder bested 27 other teams, including 13 of which were ranked in the NFCA top-25 entering tournament play.

Trine freshman Kaitlyn Clark (Mount Juliet, Tenn./Wilson Central) was named the Tournament Most Valuable Player after hitting .522 over the six games with 12 hits, two doubles, five runs scored and three RBI. Senior Andi Gasco (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) was named the Tournament Most Valuable Pitcher after defeating defending National Champion No. 15 Pacific Lutheran and getting the win over Claremont in the finals. Gasco was 2-1 for the tournament against with a 3.78 ERA and 10 strikeouts with her only loss coming in pool play to No. 8 Illinois Wesleyan. Gasco also hit .353 at the dish with six hits, all extra-bases (3 doubles, a triple and 2 home runs) while driving in nine and scoring four times.

In the opener, the Thunder got revenge on Illinois Wesleyan who handed Trine their lone loss of the Tournament, winning 2-1. Sophomore Bree Fuller (Hubbardston, Mich./Fulton) allowed just one run on three hits and striking out five on the mound for the Thunder. At the plate, senior Lauren Harris (Uniontown, Ohio/Hoover) delivered the first blow for the Thunder as she deposited a 1-1 pitch over the left field fence. Fellow senior Sarah Belote (Bronson, Mich./Bronson) then stepped in a delivered a single. After moving to second on a sacrifice, Belote went to third on a single by sophomore Carly Searles and then score on a passed ball.

In game two, Claremont took an early 2-0 lead in the third on a Trine error and two hits. The Thunder would score their first run in the fifth with a leadoff double by sophomore Rachel Harris (Uniontown, Ohio/Hoover). After being pinch-ran for by freshman Riley Larkin (Plainfield, Ind./Avon), with two outs junior Haleigh Daniels (Hamilton) delivered a clutch hit with a single to left to score Larkin.

Claremont added two runs in the top of the seventh on a bases loaded walk and sacrifice fly. The damage could have been worse, but Gasco was able to retire three-in-a-row, and made a catch-and-flip to Belote at home on a suicide squeeze to retire the runner.

In the bottom of the inning, the Thunder got it started with back-to-back walks by Rachel Harris and Belote. Then with one out, Daniels hit a hard grounder to the shortstop but the throw couldn't be handled by the first basemen allowing pinch-runner junior Jillian Craig (Indianapolis, Ind./Bishop Chatard) to score from second. Daniels would steal second on the next pitch to put runners on 2nd and 3rd. Searles came up clutch for Trine with a triple to right-center, clearing the bases and tying the game. Claremont elected to pitch to Clark, who had been on fire the whole tournament and she made them pay, delivering the game-winning hit up the middle to score Searles from third and making the Thunder Tournament Champions.

Trine will have the week off before their home-opener on March 16 when they face Hiram for a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m.