HOLLAND, Mich. – The nationally ranked Trine University softball team took a pair of games from their hosts from Hope College, remaining undefeated in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play. They have won their last 30 MIAA regular season games, a streak that dates back to April of 2024.
The Thunder opened the day with a convincing victory, led by a strong offensive performance and a stellar outing by freshman Kami Arnett in the circle. Arnett went five innings in the game and allowed just one earned run on two hits and three walks, while striking out nine batters.
The offense steadily built a lead through the first few innings. Tyra Marcum brought in the first run of the game by forcing an error before Macy Rocha recorded the first RBI of the game with a single.
Marcum singled in the third for an RBI of her own and a 3-0 lead for the Thunder. Emma Lee followed up in the fourth with a solo homer, her fourth of the season, making the score 4-0.
The team put together a crooked number in the sixth inning, to put the home team in danger of the run-rule. Kennedy Huckeby, Whitney Duell, Karley Trine and Marcum each earned RBIs. All but Jo Trine did it on singles, while the senior forced a fielder's choice for hers.
Arnet ran out of steam in the bottom of the inning, allowing the first two Flying Dutch to reach base. Alex Rodriguez took over in relief, and took a few batters to find her groove. One run scored in the inning, but that was it as the game ultimately went final at 8-1. Rodriguez finished the game with two innings, allowing two hits with two strikeouts.
The second game of the day was a close one. Hope scored first, plating a run in the first inning on an error.
The Thunder tied the game in the second, with Jo Trine recording a two-out single for the RBI. She came up with another clutch hit in the bottom of the fourth, putting the team up 2-1.
It was all the run support that Sydney Adolfson needed. She pitched all seven innings allowing just the one unearned run on three hits. She struck out a pair while forcing 14 groundouts. All told she threw just 59 pitches in the victory.
The Thunder finish the day 19-1 overall and 4-0 in MIAA play. They will next take the field when they travel to face Saint Mary's College on Wednesday, April 15. That doubleheader is scheduled to start at 3 p.m.
