COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Trine University softball team split on the opening day of the 2025 season, falling to #2 Linfield University in the opener before defeating Wartburg College in game two.
The Thunder who are ranked tenth in the nation according the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), started the season with a tall task, facing the second ranked Wildcats. Trine came up short by the score of 14-7 despite a valiant comeback attempt in the bottom of the seventh.
Trine opened the scoring in the first inning, with
Karley Trine homering in her first at-bat for two runs. In the second inning newcomer
Whitney Duell, who scored on the big swing from Trine in the first inning, brought in a run of her own with a single to right field.
Linfield found their legs in the next few innings scoring 14 unanswered runs to take a 14-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh. Faced with the large deficit and down to their last out,
Ainsley Phillips scored a solo homer before
Tyra Marcum brought in three runs to cut the lead to 14-7. That went final after a final out was recorded.
After a quick field change, the Thunder were back in action, this time against a tough but unranked Knights team. Once again, the Trine struck first, but this time they built on the lead before allowing even one response. Marcum opened the scoring with a homerun in the first, with Phillip, Duell and Trine adding runs in the second.
Debbie Hill had her first long ball in the third to make the score 6-0.
Marcum, Hill and
Macy Rocha each recorded RBIs in the fourth to build the lead to 9-0, putting the opposition on run-rule watch.
Lauren Clausen was superb in the circle for the team. She didn't allow a hit until the third inning and the Knights only scored one run, coming in the fifth. Clausen ended the game with six strikeouts, no walks and just two hits.
The team ends the day 1-1. They are set for another challenging doubleheader tomorrow, Saturday, March 1. They open the day with the #25 Huntingdon (Ala.) University at 3 p.m. before taking on #7 Case Western Reserve University at 5:30 p.m.
