ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University softball team advanced to the winners' bracket half of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Tournament after winning their opening game against fourth-seeded Calvin University, 5-0.
The Thunder utilized a big first inning to secure the victory. Whitney Duell led off the game with a triple down the right field line with Emma Lee following up with a hit by pitch and a steal. Tyra Marcum brought in the first runs of the game with a rocket shot over the right field fence. Robbed of extra RBIs by her teammate, Debbie Hill's towering homer to right center went down as a solo shot and made the score 4-0.
That lead would prove to be more than enough with the MIAA's Most Valuable Pitcher in the circle. Alexis Michon ended up going all seven innings in the game allowing just two hits while striking out four different batters in the shutout victory. The win is her 17th of the season, tied for tenth most in program history, and her eighth shutout, tying herself for second most in program history.
Trine added an insurance run in the sixth inning with Keelin Wheaton recording the RBI on an infield single. That score of 5-0 went final after three more quick outs in the top of the seventh.
The Thunder improve to 22-4 overall following the victory. Adrian College won the other game of the day 3-1 over Hope College, setting up a third meeting between the top two teams in the MIAA this regular season. The Bulldogs will serve as home team on the scoreboard in the game which is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. tomorrow, Thursday, May 8. The winner of the contest will advance to the championship game on Friday, May 9 with the loser playing in an elimination game at 4 p.m. tomorrow.
