-- Story provided by Trine University Athletics --
MARSHALL, Texas – The Trine University softball team pulled away in the final innings to force a decisive second game against Coe College with a 9-2 victory. The two teams will meet again tomorrow, Monday, June 5 at 11 a.m. CT / noon ET to determine who will advance to the final series of the 2023 NCAA Division III Softball Championship.
The Thunder started the day strong with Cassie Woods continuing her impressive week by reaching base with a double in the top of the first inning. Emma Lee followed up with a home run into the stands down the left field line making the score 2-0.
Emma Beyer added to the lead in the second. After leading off with a single right back at the pitcher she utilized smart baserunning and an error to advance all the way home after a sacrifice bunt from Ashleigh Tranter.
The Kohawks got on the board in the bottom of the second and then cut the lead to one in the fifth inning when they made the score 3-2.
Senior Anna Koeppl started the game, but was pulled quickly after allowing the run in the second inning. Junior Alexis Michon entered in relief and was responsible for the Coe run in the fifth.
Woods recorded an RBI-single in the sixth to cushion the deficit back to two at 4-2 in the sixth. The Kohawk pitching ran out in the seventh and the Thunder had a big inning scoring five runs with three coming on RBI-walks, one on a wild pitch and one on a single.
After a quick bottom of the seventh Trine secured the win at 9-2 and were set to faceoff again against Coe at 9 p.m. CT. After the game between Berry College and Salisbury University went into an extra inning, with the Sea Gulls pulling off the come from behind win, the Thunder were set to start at 9:50 p.m. Unfortunately, inclement weather came first interrupting warmups and eventually necessitating postponement of the game until tomorrow.
Now the two teams will faceoff tomorrow, Monday, June 5 at 11 a.m. CT / noon ET with the winner scheduled to face Salisbury in a best of three series beginning on Tuesday, June 6.
