KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Trine University softball team swept their hosts from Kalamazoo College, securing the program's 15th Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Championship. It is the seventh straight season that the team has taking home the regular season title.
The Thunder secured at least a share of the title by winning the first game of the day 10-0 in five innings. Debbie Hill led the way with a fantastic game in the circle and with a pair of RBIs. She finished her pitching day with the shutout allowing just two hits while striking out six. At the plate she had a two-run homer.
Tyra Marcum got the scoring started in the first inning with a solo home run, before Hill had her homer in the third to make the score 3-0. Karley Trine brought in tow more with a single in the fourth, followed by a double from Marcum that scored two more. Trine had RBIs from Mylee Boling, Whitney Duell and Jo Trine in the fifth to finish off the run-rule victory at 10-0.
The team then captured the title outright with a 13-1 win in five more innings. It was a balanced offensive attack in the contest, with five members of the team recording multiple RBIs and two more adding one each. Macy Rocha led the way for the team with three RBIs.
Marcum and Hill opened the scoring the first inning, each bringing in one run. Marcum's came off of a single while Hill recorded a sacrifice fly.
The team pulled away in the second inning, posting eight runs for a 9-0 lead. Emma Lee opened the inning with a solo home run. The next two batters walked before Keelin Wheaton doubled for the 4-0 lead. Duell had a single that brought in two runs in the next at-bat. More walks loaded the bases with Rocha bringing in two on a single through the left side. Clare Feehan finished the scoring in the inning, during her second plate appearance of the inning, with an RBI fielder's choice.
The Hornets scored their lone run of the game in the third inning, cutting the lead to 9-1. The Thunder responded with four more runs in the bottom of the third to build the final 13-1 lead. Hill started the run with a sacrifice fly, before Rocha, Lee and Feehan each had RBI hits.
In the circle, Alex Rodriguez and Sydney Adolfson split time for the Thunder. Rodriguez made the start and finished with two-and-a-third innings of work. She allowed on run on five hits and a walk, while striking out a pair. Adolfson finished the final two-and-two-thirds allowing just two hits while striking out one. Adolfson was the pitcher of record.
Trine finishes the regular season 29-3 overall and 14-2 in MIAA play. They now turn their attention to the MIAA Softball Tournament presented by Collegiate Credit Union, which they will host beginning on Wednesday, May 6. The tournament is a three-day event, with a pair of contests scheduled for the first day. The Thunder are set to face fourth-seeded Hope College at 1 p.m. with two-seeded Calvin University and three-seeded Alma College following at 3:30 p.m.
