After splitting 10 games over their spring break Florida trip, the softball team faced a tough task in their home opener. Trine, ranked seventh nationally in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll, travelled to Anderson for a Saturday doubleheader.
The young Raven team showed promise in the first game, racking up 18 hits, including eight for extra-bases. DJ Martz, Samantha Ausmus and Lexi Gray recorded three hits a piece. Martz drove in three runs, one of which came on a solo home-run in the fifth. The blast was Martz’s fourth of the year.
Anderson plated 12 runs in the first game. Trine came in with a sub-four ERA. Unfortunately, the Ravens were unable to slow down the Thunder, allowing 17 runs on 18 hits, seven of which were home runs. Three of the bombs came in a seven-run fifth inning, which gave Trine the lead for good.
Hadley Decker started and threw 5.1 innings. Her record now stands at 3-3. Morgan Masters threw the final 1.2 innings in relief.
Anderson was unable to carry their success at the plate over to the second game, losing 19-0. The Ravens were only able to muster up three hits as a team. Martz again posted an extra-base hit, recording a double, but the inning ended with runners stranded on second and third, the only time in game two the Ravens had multiple runners in scoring position.
Kacey Kaelin started and threw 2.2 innings. The loss dropped her record to 2-2 on the season. Masters, Mariah Hardin and Makayla Durick threw the rest of the five inning contest.
“Trine showed why they are nationally-ranked,” said coach Tony Holloway in a press release. “Our young team proved what they are capable of in the first game, but we showed some of our youth in the second. We made some mistakes that gave them extra opportunities. You can’t do that and expect to win against a team of that caliber.”