CLERMONT, Fla. – The defending national champion Trine Softball team opened their title defense with a pair of winds in Florida. The start of their spring break slate came in a 6-0 victory against the John Jay College of Criminal Justice followed by a 6-1 victory over Bethany Lutheran College.

Debbie Hill made the first start of the season and pitched a gem against the Bloodhounds. She finished her six innings in the circle with 11 strikeouts while allowing just one hit and two walks. She added an RBI offensively to complete the day.

The Thunder scored twice in the first inning, once on a passed ball and the other on Hills sacrifice fly. They pulled away in the contest's fifth inning. In that frame they plated four runs. Kennedy Huckeby and Karley Trine earned RBIs while the rest of the runs came by passed ball or error.

Sydney Adolfson made her first start for the Thunder in the second game, going all seven innings on the way to the victory. She finished her day with seven strikeouts, while allowing just four hits and the one earned run in the team's 6-1 victory over the Vikings.

Bethany Lutheran struck first, scoring in the first inning. Tyra Marcum responded with the first home run of the season in the third, plating three runs. She added another RBI in the fifth on a single to left center. Abbie Geib and Jo Trine accounted for the other two runs.

The Thunder finish the day 2-0. They will continue their stint in the Sunshine State tomorrow, Sunday, March 1 with two more games. They open the day at 12:15 p.m. against Concordia University Wisconsin followed by a game against Johnson & Wales University.