ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University softball team advanced to the championship game of the 2024 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Softball Tournament by sweeping the first day of the event. The team stands as the lone remaining unbeaten team, just one win away from the championship and the accompanying automatic bid to the 2024 NCAA Division III Softball Championship.

It wasn't a runaway victory in the first game of the day with the Thunder and Adrian battling through a pitchers' duel. For Trine, Alexis Michon started the game and pitched five spectacular innings. She allowed just one hit and a walk while striking out nine batters. Debbie Hill entered in relief and finished out the shutout without allowing another baserunner while striking out a pair.

Hill also scored the lone run of the contest after she reached base on an error in the second inning. She barely made content in the at-bat popping the ball straight up, but the morning sun caused problems for the charging first baseman who had the ball drop off the end of her glove. With no one covering the bag, Hill made it to second on the play.

It looked like the Bulldogs would escape the jam as they set down the next two batters, once on a spectacular diving catch by the short stop. Down to the last out, Emma Beyer came to the plate and recorded the clutch single to center field, bringing Hill home.

With the pitching on the other side of the frame, the one run was enough to send the team to the winners' bracket. Michon earned her 16th win of the season and Hill received her fourth save.

The second game saw the Thunder faceoff with Calvin University for the third time this season. The Knights swept the regular season matchup, handing Trine two of their three losses this season. Today went about as different as possible in the matchup with the home team cruising to a 17-1 victory in five innings.

Four different Thunder recorded home runs in the contest, starting with Tyra Marcum in the bottom of the first inning. Her hit brought in three runs and gave the team a 3-0 lead. The final five runs for the team, all coming in the fourth inning, came on the other three homers. Karley Trine and Hill each had two-RBI versions while Scarlett Elliott had a solo shot.

Marcum led the way in the game with four RBIs while Jo Trine finished second with three. Ellie Trine, Emma Lee and Ainsley Phillips joined Hill in recorded two each. Macy Rocha and Elliott rounded out the RBIs with one each.

In the circle Lauren Clausen got the start and, despite sitting for long stretches while the offense worked, was effective for all five innings. She finished out with her ninth win of the season while allowing just the one run on two hits. She struck out six batters in the contest.

Trine improves to 38-3 overall following the two wins. Calvin and Hope College will face off to start the day tomorrow, Saturday, May 10 at noon. The Thunder will await the winner of that game for the championship contest which is scheduled for 2 p.m.