COLUMBUS, Ga. - It was a big day for the 11th ranked Trine University softball team as they won their final game of pool play at the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Leadoff Classic and then knocked off top-seeded and defending National Champion Pacific Lutheran. The Thunder are now 9-1 on the season.

In their first game of the day, the Thunder defeated Mississippi College in their final pool play game 6-0. Sophomore pitcher Bree Fuller (Hubbardston, Mich./Fulton) earned her third shutout of the young season as she struck out six and allowing just four hits.

At the plate, freshman Kaitlyn Clark (Mount Juliet, Tenn./Wilson Central) led the Thunder with two hits and an RBI. In the fourth, Clark doubled with one-out and then a batter later, senior Andi Gasco (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) drove her in with a double of her own. Trine added three more in the fifth as junior Haleigh Daniels (Hamilton, Ohio/Hamilton) drove in a run on a double, sophomore Carly Searles (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) drove in another on a groundout and Clark notched an RBI with a single. The team would score twice more in the sixth as senior Ashton Morgan (Berne, Ind./South Adams) delivered a pinch-hit double to score a run and Searles singled to drive in her second run of the game.

In game two, the Thunder faced 15th ranked Pacific Lutheran, the defending Division III champions. Lutheran jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first. In the third, Trine would deliver the dagger as Gasco launched the first pitch she saw over the left-center fence for a three-run shot to put Trine up 3-1. The Thunder would add a run in the fourth on an RBI groundout by Daniels.

Lutheran would get the run back in the fifth despite not getting a hit as Trine committed two errors in the inning. The Thunder were able to escape further damage as Lutheran left the bases loaded.

In the top of the 7th inning, Trine added an insurance run after a leadoff triple by Searles who then scored on a passed ball. Lutheran would get their leadoff batter on in the bottom of the inning, but Gasco was able to retire the next three batters to give Trine the win. In the circle, Gasco allowed just five hits while striking out four.

It was the first loss of the tournament for Pacific Lutheran, and was the most runs they had allowed and the fewest runs they had scored.

With her 4 RBI's today, Gasco set the Trine career record with 105, surpassing Kara Graham who drove in 102 from 2006-09.

Trine advances to face Illinois Wesleyan in the semi-finals of the Gold Bracket and will play at 10:00 a.m. with the winner advancing to the championship game at 12:00 p.m.